News / North Africa

Libya rival parliaments agree to sign unity government deal on December 16: UN

Friday, 11 December 2015 11:25 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 11 December 2015 11:50 PM ]

UN envoy for Libya Martin Kobler (C) next to the UN humanitarian coordinator for Libya Ali Zaatari (L) and Director of Political Affairs at the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Muin Shreim during a meeting with Libyan factions in the Tunisian capital Tunis, December 10, 2015 (AFP)

Members of Libya's two rival parliaments have agreed on the target date of December 16 to sign a UN-backed agreement on forming a national unity government in the North African country, the UN envoy for Libya says.

Martin Kobler made the remark on Friday following two days of talks between Libya's rival factions in the Tunisian capital Tunis.

"There was a wide consensus that only through rapid signature of the Libyan political agreement the country can be brought back to unity," Kobler said.

"Many problems remain, but this has to be solved by the new government in place. That's what governments are there for," he added.

Under the UN proposal, a nine-member presidential council, comprised of a prime minister, five deputy prime ministers, and three senior ministers, will govern Libya.

Later on Friday, Kobler briefed the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Libya via video conference.

Libya's "social fabric, national unity and territorial integrity is directly endangered by the forces of extremism and terrorism," Kobler said, stressing that the Daesh terrorist group is actively seeking to extend its influence in Libya beyond areas it now controls, mostly in the northern city of Sirte.

Libya has been struggling with instability since 2011, when the country’s then dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, was overthrown and armed groups as well as regional factions engaged in a conflict.

The capital Tripoli is controlled by a political faction, called Libya Dawn, allied with powerful armed forces based in the city of Misrata. The faction has reinstated the old parliament, known as the General National Congress (GNC), in the capital.

The internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni is based in the eastern city of Bayda, with its elected House of Representatives in Tobruk.

On December 6, the rival sides signed a declaration of principles in an attempt to end the conflict. Media reports said that under the deal, a 10-member committee would be formed to appoint an interim president and his deputy.

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