On Wednesday, the United Nations Acting Envoy to Libya, Stephanie Williams, said the political talks on Libya’s future have reached agreement on holding elections within 18 months.
She hailed the “breakthrough” in a peace-making process that still faces great obstacles.
75 Libyan participants chosen by the United Nations have been meeting in Tunisia since Monday.
Williams said the meeting has reached preliminary agreement on a roadmap to “free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections” that also includes steps to unite institutions.
“Thursday’s talks in Tunis will focus on a new unified transitional government to oversee the run-up to elections, with participants discussing its “prerogatives and competencies,” Williams said.
She added that the new government would have to quickly address deteriorating public services and corruption, two issues that prompted protests on both sides of the frontlines this summer.
Williams pointed out that the roadmap outlines steps to begin a process of national reconciliation, transitional justice and address the plight of displaced people.