UN-brokered Libyan Political Agreement on National Unity Government signed

The United Nations-brokered Libyan Political Agreement on formation of a national unity government was signed. It was signed on 17 December 2015 in Skhirat, Morocco.

The agreement puts in place a single set of legitimate institutions to secure a peaceful and prosperous Libya.

The agreement will also lead to the establishment of a single Government of National Accord and national institutions that will ensure broad representation which is evident from its signatories.

The agreement was signed by the participants of UN-Facilitated Libyan Political Dialogue. They were mainly representatives of two rival parliaments and governments - the Tripoli-based General National Congress and the UN-recognised House of Representatives in Tobruk.

The dialogue also included a broad range of Libyan society including members, as well as important public figures from Libyan political parties, civil society, municipalities and women groups.

In finalizing the agreement Martin Kobler played a key role. He is the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL),

Significance of the agreement

The agreement is expected to bring stability to Libya that is suffering from multiple problems-multiple governments, terrorism and hunger.

Since toppling of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has been torn apart by violence.

The conflict between the two powerful factions erupted in 2014 when they set up rival governments in a battle for control of the oil-rich North African nation.

At present the country is torn between an internationally recognized government based in the east of the country and an Islamist militia-backed government in the capital Tripoli.

Due to infighting between two governments, the threat of Da’esh (also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant or ISIL) has grown in recent times.

As per an estimate of the UN, more than 2.4 million people require immediate humanitarian assistance, of which 435000 are estimated to be internally displaced in the country.

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