Libya's 6+6 committee makes breakthrough on election issue

RABAT, Morocco

Rival Libyan groups reached an agreement on long-awaited presidential and legislative elections in the country during a meeting in the North African country of Morocco, which many see as a significant step toward ending years of chaos and instability.

The Libyan Joint Committee 6+6, formed jointly by Libya's House of Representatives and High Council for the preparation of electoral laws, made an announcement late Tuesday after two days of talks between rival groups in Bouznika, a resort city south of the capital Rabat.

The committee's spokesman Omar Abu Buleifa said it has been agreed that Libya's legislative power will consist of two chambers, namely the House of Representatives and the Senate and that there has also been progress in related issues such as the number of parliamentary seats and their distribution, women's representation, and dealing with election violations.

Both legislative and presidential elections will be held simultaneously, ensuring a comprehensive electoral procedure, Abu Buleifa added.

He said the committee will continue to meet in order to complete all procedures and laws related to the elections process in consultation with the judiciary, the elections commission, and the UN mission in Libya.

The committee began talks in Bouznika on Monday with the goal of drafting laws to organize legislative and presidential elections in 2023, in accordance with the roadmap announced by UN special envoy Abdoulaye Bathily at the end of February.

The committee was formed in March by 12 members from the Libyan House of Representatives and the High State Council, with 6 members from each.

Libya has been torn by civil war and instability since the ouster of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar