Delegations from Libya’s rival legislative bodies resumed talks in Morocco on Wednesday, aiming to resolve a prolonged political stalemate and prevent the country from descending further into chaos.
The discussions, held in Bouznika near the Moroccan capital Rabat, brought together representatives from the High Council of State, based in Tripoli in western Libya, and the House of Representatives, based in Benghazi in the east.
Libya has faced over a decade of turbulence, marked by its 2014 split into two administrations following the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. Efforts to stabilize the nation have repeatedly faltered, with a key election scheduled for December 2021 collapsing amid disputes over candidate eligibility.
Speaking at the opening session, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita urged participants to prioritize Libya’s unity and establish a foundation for credible elections. “The numerous international and regional conferences on Libya will not replace the inter-Libyan dialogue, which has credibility and ownership,” Bourita emphasized.
The political impasse stems from years of division and conflict between the rival bodies. The House of Representatives, elected in 2014 with a four-year mandate, was tasked with overseeing a political transition. Meanwhile, the High Council of State was formed in 2015 under the Libyan Political Agreement, signed in Morocco’s Skhirate, as an advisory second chamber.
However, tensions flared when the House of Representatives appointed its own government, challenging the mandate of the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli. This move reignited Libya’s east-west divide, leaving the country mired in institutional paralysis and fragile peace.
The latest talks in Morocco are seen as a critical step toward bridging the divide and paving the way for lasting stability in the North African nation.
