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Reuters
Libyan citizens are to be asked for their views on the country’s future in a series of UN-backed public consultations aimed at breaking a political stalemate and preparing for new elections after years of conflict and division.
The first meetings will be held in the eastern city of Benghazi and the far western city of Zuwara on Thursday. More than 20 open meetings are planned over the next few weeks, including at least five in Libya’s marginalised south.
Citizens will be invited to air their opinions on
divisive issues such as the spending of oil revenues, the powers of a future central government and the disarming of militias.
Their views will feed into a “national conference†process promoted by UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame that is meant to pave the way for elections by the end of 2018.
Salame has been trying to help forge agreement on a constitution and new electoral laws, but efforts to reshape a UN-brokered government in Tripoli have stalled.
Since disputed elections in 2014 Libya has been split between competing political and military factions in the west and east of the country. The Tripoli government is rejected by its eastern-based rivals.
Political turmoil and sporadic armed conflict have led to economic collapse, allowing migrant smugglers to flourish and giving space to militants.