Libyan officials returned to the Egyptian capital on Sunday for a third round of talks on constitutional amendments for elections.
Libya once again finds itself at a political impasse, with two rival administrations claiming legitimacy.
The talks in Cairo follow clashes between rival militias that caused residents of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to panic and revived memories of previous bouts of fighting in the nation.
Politicians from Libya’s parliament in the east and the High Council of State, an advisory body from western Libya, began the UN-brokered negotiations amid concerted international pressure on the two chambers to put their disputes aside and agree on the election’s legal basis.
The UN special adviser on Libya, Stephanie Williams, said talks in a Cairo hotel would continue until Sunday with the aim of establishing a constitutional framework “required to take the country to national elections as soon as possible”.
“After eleven long years of division, dysfunction, conflict, chaos and polarisation, the Libyan people are exhausted,” she told attendees at the opening session.
“You have a real opportunity, indeed a solemn responsibility, to give them hope, to provide a pathway towards elections within a firm constitutional framework.”
In the previous two rounds of talks, the parties came to an initial consensus on 137 articles of the constitutional draft, including on rights and freedoms. They will continue discussing a handful of disputed articles on legislative and judicial authority, Ms Williams said.
The dispute over the constitutional framework of the election was among major challenges that caused planned national elections to fail in December.
The failure to hold the vote was a major blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya. It has opened a new chapter in its long-running political impasse, with rival governments now claiming power after tentative steps towards unity in the past year.
On Friday, clashes broke out in Tripoli between rival militias. Residents took shelter and women and children fled a busy park as artillery shells flew across the night sky. It was not clear what caused the violence. Authorities in Tripoli said an investigation had been opened.
Ms Williams, condemned the fighting. She said in a Twitter post: “Enough is enough!” She called for those responsible to be held accountable.
The US ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said those responsible for the fighting “will pay a price with the Libyan people and the international community”.
The violence was the latest bout of infighting between rogue militias in recent weeks. This has been a particular problem in the western region, which is ruled by militias loosely allied with the Tripoli-based government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
Libya has for years been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by various well-armed militias and foreign governments. The Mediterranean nation has been in a state of upheaval since a 2011 Nato-backed uprising toppled and later killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
The country’s plan to make the transition to an elected government fell through after the interim administration based in Tripoli, headed by Mr Dbeibah, failed to hold elections last year.
Mr Dbeibah has refused to step down since then, raising questions over his mandate. In response, the country’s eastern politicians have elected a rival prime minister, Fathi Bashagha, a powerful former interior minister who is now operating a separate administration out of the city of Sirte.
In a televised phone call, Mr Dbeibah, urged a powerful commander who leads the 444 brigade — which serves his government — to do what is necessary to restore peace in Tripoli.
His rival, Mr Bashagha called in a series of tweets for armed groups to surrender their weapons. Last month, Mr Bashagha entered Tripoli and attempted to install his government there, but left within hours after fighting broke out that killed one person.
Meanwhile, a widening blockade on oil production, largely in the country’s east, has cut off key state revenue in opposition to Mr Dbeibah remaining in power. On Friday, a video announcement by residents and workers of the Sidra oil port, which is key for exports, warned that they would stop operations because of a lack of basic services in surrounding towns.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Red Joan
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Judi Dench, Sophie Cookson, Tereza Srbova
Rating: 3/5 stars
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MATCH INFO
Quarter-finals
Saturday (all times UAE)
England v Australia, 11.15am
New Zealand v Ireland, 2.15pm
Sunday
Wales v France, 11.15am
Japan v South Africa, 2.15pm
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
