Libyans have expressed disquiet over the postponement of what would have been a landmark presidential election on December 24th 2021.
Speaking hours after the announcement, Libyans have questioned the wisdom in deferring the vote at a time when the country has enjoyed relative stability.
Some argued that there are no guarantees that this semblance of tranquility after years of conflict would not be upended before the new date of the election on January 24th, 2021.
“We had pinned our hopes on this election which would have meant Libyans determining who leads them and the rest of the world recognising this” said one desperate Libyan left distraught about the postponement.
This concern has been echoed by Western governments who warned that deferring the date for the presidential vote could be the harbinger of further postponements given the political uncertainty and insecurity in Libya.
Washington has there is a risk that the election may not be held for a long time into the future.
Libya has witnessed relative stability following last year’s onslaught by General Khalifa Hafter’s forces on the capital Tripoli where the country’s internationally recognised unity government is headquartered.
Hafter, who is named as a candidate for the presidency alongside Muammar Gaddafi’s youngest son Saif al-Islam has been based in the eastern city of Benghazi from where his troops had launched a protracted and unsuccessful invasion of the Libyan capital.
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, restive Libya has been governed by two distinct authorities one based in Tripoli and the other in Benghazi with both Western and regional powers backing sides to the conflict.
WN/as/APA