Libyan Interior ministry warns insecurity puts electoral process in jeopardy

Libya’s Interior minister, Khaled Mazen, warned that deteriorating security situation in the country is no longer acceptable for the electoral process to proceed following failure of the Sabha Court to consider the appeals brought to it due to security threats, Libya Observer reports.
Mazen made remarks during a joint press conference with Minister of Justice Halima Abdul Rahman in connection with the assignment given to them by Presidential Council to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack against Sabha court.
“The attacks that occurred in the electoral processes are one of the long standings. Our cadres and institutions have long faced pressure and challenges,” Mazen said.
The First Instance Appeals Committee in Sabha has been unable since Thursday to rule over appeals brought by Saif al Islam Gaddafi; the son of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, after his candidacy for next month 24 presidential polls, was disqualified by the country’s electoral body.
An armed force affiliated with Khalifa Haftar; the country’s eastern region strongman and also candidate for the elections, repeatedly prevented the committee rule after storming the court premises to halt the case.
Mazen also citing several irregularities including seizure of electoral equipment in the city of Ajdabiya and the direct threats to several security officials who had attended a training course in Tripoli concerning the elections.
“We declare today that the continued obstruction of the security agenda and the expansion of violations and attacks will harm all efforts put into the electoral security plan, which will directly affect the progress of the electoral process and our commitment to hold it on time,” he added.
Mazen’s remarks follow same warning by Italy’s interior minister Luciana Lamorgese. The Italian official has expressed doubt on holding Libyan crucial presidential election.
Lamorgese speaking during a reception organized by Il Foglio newspaper, indicated that next month 24 elections in Libya to elect the country’s first central leader since 2011 after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, seems to be a difficult task to achieve.