Rival Libyan politicians on Thursday signed a deal to form a unity government, despite opposition on both sides, in what the UN described as a “first step” toward ending the country’s crisis.
World powers have urged the warring factions to break a political deadlock that has allowed Muslim militants and people-smugglers to flourish since the fall of late Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.
A group of lawmakers from Libya’s rival parliaments, as well as other political figures, inked the UN-sponsored accord in the Moroccan resort city of Skhirat, a journalist said.
Photo: EPA
About 80 of 188 lawmakers from the internationally recognized parliament and 50 of 136 members of the Tripoli-based General National Congress (GNC) signed the deal, participants said.
It calls for a 17-member government, headed by businessman Fayez el-Sarraj as prime minister and including two women, based in Tripoli. There would also be a presidential council for a transitional period of two years up until legislative elections.
French Ambassador to Libya Antoine Sivan said in a statement the UN Security Council would adopt a resolution within days “recognizing this government as the only legitimate government of Libya.”
However, the accord has caused deep divisions within Libya’s two legislatures.
“There are two parliaments and two governments. Now they are going to impose a third government on us instead of bringing together the two rival authorities,” GNC member Mahmoud Abdelaziz said.
The heads of both parliaments already warned that the accord lacked legitimacy and that those who signed it represented only themselves.
GNC head Nouri Abusahmein on Wednesday said: “Whoever has not been commissioned by the GNC to sign or initial a deal on its behalf is, and will remain, without legitimacy.”
A government such as that proposed by the UN “does not even guarantee the minimum required to ensure its effectiveness,” he added.
While Western powers and NATO welcomed Thursday’s deal, UN envoy Martin Kobler acknowledged that much remained to be done.
“This is just the beginning of a long journey for Libya. Signing is only the first step on the road to putting Libya back on the right track,” he said at the ceremony.
“The door is always open to those who are not here today. The new government must move urgently to address the concerns of those who feel marginalized,” he added.
The country has been mired in chaos since the 2011 overthrow and killing of long-time leader Qaddafi.
The recognized government says a UN arms embargo is hampering the battle against the Islamic State group, which seized control of the coastal city of Sirte in June.
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