
Assuming the parliaments ratify the agreement, it will lead to a rewriting of the Constitution and a new representative body to replace the dysfunctional ‘two parliament’ system. A new prime minister will be nominated within 15 days — all of which is a very tall order indeed. An alliance of extremist militias overran Tripoli in August 2014 and drove the elected government into exile in the east of the country. At stake are the vast natural resources, which were the engine of the Libyan economy. Also at stake is the stability of a large part of West Africa as states to the south have noted a sharp rise in terrorist activity since the fall of Tripoli. Libya has ‘infected’ other states in the region and is likely to continue to do so whether or not the parliamentary crisis is resolved in the near future. The European Union is concerned about the possibility of infiltration by Libyan jihadis of the migrant/refugee stream currently flowing inwards. We wish success to those brokering positive change, and hope as well for a true ‘Arab spring’ in the future.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2015.
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