Libya faces increasing tensions as their chosen interim government is on the brink of change once again, risking the country’s fragile peace. Libya has a complex background, as the country is fragmented with different religious, ethnic, and political groups. This has caused extreme tensions between the various factions since 2011 when the dictatorship ended. Last year, prime minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah was chosen through a UN-backed process. He is subject to removal now, but rejects the move. Many Libyans fear violence as they believe this dispute could derail the attempt to hold national elections, and they want to keep the comparative calm, which has existed for 18 months now. 

The speaker of Libya’s eastern-based parliament, Aguila Saleh, said on Monday the chamber would choose a new interim prime minister next week, but the current incumbent rejected the move. Dbeibah told Reuters that Saleh was conducting “a desperate attempt to renew division” but that the government would continue to operate without change until new elections were held. 

The Libyan government has faced many issues over the past few decades, stemming from their fragmented identity. The UN-backed process of choosing the prime minister last year was a step in the right direction towards a more stable country and hopefully soon-to-be national elections. Holding the national elections should be a top priority, but when the process failed last year, it caused more tensions between the ruling factions and instilled fear in civilians. Since the end of the dictatorship in 2011, Libya remains without a clear constitution or universally accepted rules governing its politics. This has to change to ensure safety and a stable future for the country. Safe voting should be guaranteed for all Libyans, and the list of candidates and election rules should be established so the election can be held safely.

In 2011, civilians orchestrated a NATO-backed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi to end his dictatorship. Since then, the country has been divided into a Western part, where the UN backs one of the groups in power, and the east where warlord Khalifa Haftar rules. In 2020, the UN was successful in making both sides sign an armistice. Subsequently, the rich businessman Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah became prime minister, he was given the task to stabilize the country and orchestrate a presidential election. The attempt to hold national elections proved to be difficult in December, 2021, as the safety of voting booths could not be guaranteed and the presidential candidate list could not be composed because of disputes over basic election issues. 

The chosen prime minister faced possible removal as the eastern-based parliament of the country wanted to choose a new leader, however he rejected the move and remains committed to governing until national elections are held in Libya. Peace in the country remains fragile while the country should work to create safety for all so they can hold the elections and continue to work on a more stable Libya. Ensuring the election in the near future is a better alternative than creating a new transitional government and should therefore be promoted.