Prospects for elections reside in hands of Libyan leaders, US diplomat says in briefing

“Nothing prevents Libya from holding elections this year except for lack of political will or unwillingness to compromise among key leaders,” said Barbara Leaf, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists during online briefing, Leaf talked about her recent travel to Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Libya, where she met with an array of key officials in both Tripoli and Benghazi.

“I underscored with all of my interlocutors U.S. full support for Special Representative [Abdoulaye] Bathily’s efforts to build consensus leading to presidential and parliamentary elections later this year, in keeping with the aspirations of the Libyan people,” she said.

“I also stressed the importance of upholding Libya’s sovereignty and respecting Libya’s own ceasefire agreement by ensuring all foreign fighters, forces, and mercenaries leave the country, above all, Wagner fighters, as well as U.S. support for Libya’s economic institutions to strengthen transparency,” she added.

In response to question about the feasibility of holding elections in the country this year, the American diplomat pointed out that this depends on consensus and compromise between Libyan leaders.

“So, the prospects for elections reside firmly in the hands of Libyan leaders,” Leaf said. “It comes down to a matter of political will and the ability to compromise.  Nothing prevents Libya from holding elections this year except for lack of political will or unwillingness to compromise among key leaders”.

“They are technically in the space of being able to hold such elections.  And so what we’ve got to really move towards is getting these key leaders in the place of exercising compromise and getting behind [Bathily’s] efforts,” she concluded.