World powers meet on Libya crisis to push elections

World powers will push for sanctions against anyone who disrupts Libya’s electoral process and political transition, according to draft conclusions of a conference that started on Friday in Paris.

The meeting, which includes the leaders of France, Libya, Germany and Egypt, as well as the US vice president, is aimed at cementing world backing for the planned vote on December 24 and efforts to remove foreign forces.

The elections are envisaged as a key moment in an UN-backed peace process to end a decade of violent chaos that has drawn in regional powers and undermined Mediterranean stability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi.

The votes for a new president and parliament are still in doubt with six weeks to go amid disputes between rival eastern and western Libyan factions and political bodies over the rules underpinning the electoral schedule and who can run.

The wrangling threatens to unravel the wider peace process, which also includes efforts to unify long-divided state institutions and to pull out foreign mercenaries who remain entrenched along frontlines despite a ceasefire.

Draft conference conclusions affirmed “that individuals or entities, inside or outside of Libya, who might attempt to obstruct, undermine, manipulate or falsify the electoral process and the political transition” could face sanctions.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a video message to the conference warned that “any party that deliberately undermines or sabotages peace must be held accountable”.

The UN Security Council has previously agreed sanctions against Libyan political figures for their role in the conflict. However, Russia has only sent lower-level representatives to Paris, raising questions over its backing of any positions agreed there.

The document seen by Reuters takes note of the Libyan electoral commission setting December 24 as the starting date for an electoral process that would extend to a later second-round presidential vote on the same day as a parliamentary election.

INCLUSIVE VOTE

The foreign powers want an inclusive election – one that would likely allow all potential candidates to run, including divisive figures seen as unacceptable in large swathes of Libya, as well as serving officials.

A French presidential official told reporters at a briefing some actors were ready to seize on any ambiguities to advance their own interests.

“They are obviously waiting to ambush and try to derail the electoral process,” the official said.

Paris initially wanted the leaders of Russia and Turkey to attend. Turkey, which fears France wants to accelerate the departure of Turkish forces from Libya, has joined Moscow in sending lower level representatives.

Mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group are entrenched alongside the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), which was supported in the war by Moscow, along with the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The former Tripoli government had support from Turkish regular forces in Libya as advisers, and from allied Syrian fighters, the Turkish government has said.

Diplomats have said Turkey was unlikely to act before there were departures from the east.