If elections were ever held in Libya and their results were disputed again by power rivals, terrorists would regain a foothold in the vast North African country, Bloomberg said in a 10 January report.
The report, entitled “Crisis and Hope: A Country Guide to Africa’s Top Political Risks,” focused on the most important political risks that several African countries, including Libya, Republic of Congo and Nigeria, are expected to witness in 2019 and their consequences.
“[D]isputed vote results could spark more chaos and embolden Islamic State’s bid to carve out a base in Libya,” the report said.
It added that Libya saw a glimpse of hope when the two power rival factions; one led by Khalifa Haftar in the east and the other led by Faiez Sarraj in the west, agreed to end the division and hold elections after eight years of turmoil.
However, thus far no consensus on the details has been reached between the factions, and “the holder of Africa’s largest proven reserves of crude remains deeply divided,” the report said.
It added that the continuous division and the lack of security would affect regional security and cause an increase in the migrant flow to Europe.
“In an added complication, Russia has been expanding its presence in Libya and is lobbying for the return of Saif al-Islam Qaddafi, the late dictator’s son, as a possible next ruler,” it concluded.
