Tensions are escalating in Libya as the Presidential Council and the Parliament clash over competing approaches to a long-awaited national reconciliation initiative.
The disagreement underscores the country’s entrenched political divisions, which continue to undermine efforts to achieve lasting stability.
On Saturday, Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, announced plans to draft and pass a law on transitional justice and national reconciliation.
Saleh framed the initiative as essential to fostering stability and unity, emphasizing that the law would be developed through broad consultations with society, legal experts, and advisors.
“The law aims to achieve justice, provide reparations, and address unresolved issues, while fostering comprehensive reconciliation,” said Saleh.
He added that the legislation seeks to bridge divides among Libyans and promote inclusivity, stating that its ultimate goal is to overcome political fragmentation and establish a decentralized, advanced state.
However, the announcement was met with sharp criticism from the Presidential Council, which has been handling the reconciliation file for years with little progress.
In an official letter issued Sunday, Mohamed Al-Manfi, President of the Presidential Council, demanded that Parliament approve the draft reconciliation law submitted by the Council in February without amendments.
Al-Manfi accused Parliament of undermining existing reconciliation efforts, arguing that its unilateral move violated the country’s political agreement and jeopardized the fragile transitional phase.
He highlighted the Council’s prior attempts to mediate between rival factions since 2022, though these efforts have stalled amid deep-seated political divisions.
The Council’s inability to organize a long-planned reconciliation conference in Sirte reflects these challenges. Political and military interests remain heavily intertwined, thwarting progress toward national unity.
Observers doubt whether transferring responsibility for the reconciliation file to Parliament will yield better results.
Libya’s political crisis remains mired in competing interests and institutional rivalries, exacerbated by contentious decisions such as the relocation of the Constitutional Court to Benghazi and disputes over the leadership of the Central Bank.
