A UN official on Monday announced that Libyan political talks would continue with focus on the mechanisms to form a new government that would oversee polls scheduled for 2021.
However, the six days of direct talks held in Tunisia ended on Sunday night, during which rival delegates agreed to hold national elections on Dec. 24, 2021.
Stephanie Williams, the acting head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSML) said meetings would resume online in one week, after direct talks ended.
“I am very pleased with the outcome of these discussions … actual reconciliation is taking place in the room.
“There has to be more technocratic competencies in the government. They need to understand they are only there for a short period of time.’’
Williams said there was also a decision that women would constitute at least 30 per cent of the next cabinet.
For years, the UN and Western powers have tried to work with Libya’s warring sides to pave the way for elections, but those plans never took shape.
Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi was toppled in 2011.
The country became a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers have been drawn into the conflict.
The UN is currently mediating three sets of talks between Libya’s warring parties: political, military and economic negotiations.
The military delegates, who reached a ceasefire deal in October, are set to discuss protection of oil facilities in the Libyan city of Brega
