- After years of U.N.-led efforts to end the civil war and usher in a democratic rule, Libya is getting ready for the first round of its presidential elections on December 24.
- The long-awaited Election still faces many challenges, such as disputes over laws governing the elections, infighting among armed groups, a deep rift between the country’s east and west, and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and troops in the country.
After years of U.N.-led efforts to end the civil war and usher in a democratic rule, Libya is getting ready for the first round of its presidential elections on December 24. The long-awaited Election still faces many challenges, such as a dispute over laws governing the elections, infighting among armed groups, a deep rift between the country’s east and west, and the presence of thousands of foreign fighters and troops in the country.
High National Elections Committee, Libya’s top electoral body has issued a list of barred candidates which includes the son and one-time heir apparent of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. According to the Election Committee, Seif al-Islam Gadhafi was disqualified due to the various convictions against him though he can still appeal to court. Seif al-Islam submitted his candidacy papers in the southern town of Sabha, on November 14. He was sentenced to death by a Tripoli court in 2015 for use of violence against protesters and is also wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes during the 2011 uprising. Earlier this month, many controversial candidates such as military commander Khalifa Hifter, and the country’s interim prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah have also submitted their candidacy.
