Qatar Pledges Support for Efforts to End Libya’s Political Division

In a move that has sparked both optimism and skepticism, Qatar’s Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi recently pledged his country’s support for ending Libya’s longstanding political division. The visit to Benghazi, where he met with Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, comes at a critical juncture in the country’s efforts to implement an initial election pact.

Qatar’s continued engagement in Libya’s complex politics is significant not only because it highlights the challenges that lie ahead for the country’s fragile peace process but also because it underscores the complexities of the issue. The visit has been framed as a demonstration of Qatar’s commitment to Libyan unity and sovereignty, but can we truly say that this is an unalloyed good? After all, Qatar’s involvement in regional conflicts has often been criticized for perpetuating instability rather than resolving it.

Libya’s descent into chaos began with the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Since then, the country has been plagued by rivalries between various factions vying for power. The current election pact, agreed upon last week, is seen as a crucial step towards ending this division, but its implementation is far from guaranteed.

The agreement itself raises more questions than answers. According to a document obtained by Al Jazeera Arabic, the “4+4” committee’s deal rewrites laws governing presidential and legislative elections and sets a 24-month deadline for their holding. However, Libyan legal expert Al-Mahdi Kashbour noted that there appears to be a gap between the powers of the parties that signed the agreement and the institutions with the authority to implement it.

Moreover, the pact does not address one of the most pressing issues facing Libya: who governs the country in the interim. As political analyst Elias al-Barouni pointed out, even if legal hurdles are cleared, the problem then shifts to who will take control of state institutions. This is a critical issue because power vacuums can quickly lead to further instability.

Qatar’s involvement in this process must be viewed through the lens of its own interests. While the country has been a vocal supporter of Libyan unity, it has also been accused of fueling regional rivalries through its interventionist policies. By engaging with Haftar and other factions, Qatar may be seeking to assert its influence in the region or promote its own security concerns.

The implications of this development are far-reaching. If Qatar’s involvement does indeed perpetuate instability rather than resolving it, then we must ask ourselves whether Libya is truly on a path towards unity. The answer is not clear-cut, and as we move forward, it is essential that all parties involved prioritize transparency and accountability in their dealings.

Ultimately, the success of this election pact will depend on more than just Qatari support or the agreement itself. It will require sustained efforts from Libyan leaders to build consensus, address institutional weaknesses, and provide a clear roadmap for governance during the transition period. Only then can we say with any confidence that Libya is truly on the path towards unity.

In the end, while Qatar’s pledge of support may be a welcome development, it must not distract us from the fundamental issues facing Libya. The country’s leaders must focus on building trust among its people and institutions rather than relying on external actors to drive change. Only through genuine Libyan-led efforts can we hope to achieve lasting stability in this tumultuous nation.