Libyans went to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new House of Representatives, which will replace the present General National Congress (GNC).
The GNC has come under heavy criticism across Libya over recent months, with accusations of inefficiency and incompetence. This will be the third legislative election since the end of Muammar Qaddafi's rule – and many Libyans openly wonder if this is Libya's last chance to save itself from a prolonged period of total state collapse.
The two-pronged problem that Libya currently faces is rather clear.
The first is violence. The second relates to who benefits from the absence of strong united leadership. This election takes place at a time when the state institutions have almost completely failed and the country stands dangerously close to collapse.
In the midst of this chaos, the renegade general, Khalifa Haftar, has emerged.
It is not surprising to see a significant number of Libyans express support for him – especially as he has declared to restore law and order and pursue radical militant elements within the country. Indeed, in a recent interview, Gen Haftar insisted he is not a renegade or a rebel, because there is “no state to rebel against”. It is a sentiment that many Libyans will sympathise with.
But the strategies of Gen Haftar are unlikely to result in a state being formed.
On the contrary, he may continue to disrupt the radical militant networks active in Libya, but at the expense of further weakening the formal state structure.
His recklessness has meant that Gen Haftar does not have the support of any government in the region.
There is another option, nonetheless, to oppose Gen Haftar’s rash approach – and the key to that lies with the new House of Representatives.
The idea has been mooted in Libya that to truly take the country out of its crisis, it will require a single leader – not a dictator or autocrat, but someone who will be directly elected by the Libyan people, and accountable directly to them.
In the days to come, even before the House deliberates on whether there should be presidential elections, different candidates are likely to make themselves known.
Announcing their candidacies may provide that extra bit of encouragement for the House to schedule presidential elections – and then things may get interesting.
Those candidates will need to deal first with the issue of violence and disarm the militias.
That is a challenge that has faced Libya since the downfall of Qaddafi, despite a clear demand by the majority of Libyans that they wish to live in a peaceful country. Any genuinely successful president is going to have to do that – and that will require a powerful mandate.
That president will need to build a new social contract for Libyans and that will require mediation via tribal affiliations rather than individual citizens, if only in the interim.
It is hard to identify a single person who can go beyond the polarisation that now exists in Libya. The non-Islamist-Islamist divide is difficult to surmount, but not impossible.
But someone does have to step up to the plate. Someone who can bring a critical mass of Libyans together, and build a broad alliance of different factions to take Libya out of its current impasse.
There really are few options left – Libya has already missed far too many chances. This week’s elections are far more important than might be imagined – they could be the first step to a process that rescues the remnants of Libya’s 2011 revolution.
Dr HA Hellyer is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, and the Brookings Institution in Washington DC
On Twitter: @hahellyer
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: CVT
Power: 170bhp
Torque: 220Nm
Price: Dh98,900
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
Awar Qalb
Director: Jamal Salem
Starring: Abdulla Zaid, Joma Ali, Neven Madi and Khadija Sleiman
Two stars
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 611bhp
Torque: 620Nm
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Price: upon application
On sale: now
MO
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21
- Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
- Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
- Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
- Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
- Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
- Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
- Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
- Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
