The proceedings of the work of the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) have long been overshadowed by the political deadlock between the GNC in Tripoli and the HoR in Tobruk which has lasted for over a year now against the backdrop of combatting ISIS in Sirte and Derna. Last week, the CDA proceeded to set up an ad hoc action group to be tasked with ironing out the final draft of the constitution. The action group would constitute of 4 representatives from each of the three historical territories of Libya. One single group member would represent the Tebu and Tuareg ethnic groups. Unhappy with this arrangement, Tebu and Tuareg representatives suspended their participation in the CDA, and threatened to walk out altogether. The said representatives argued that they have different ethnic concerns and as such, it would not be acceptable for them to be represented by just one member. In a communique, signed by the Tebu and Tuareg representatives in the CDA, they considered “the non-commitment of the CDA to the principle of consensus with minorities, as stipulated in the Constitutional Declaration; and the exclusion of Tuaregs and Tebus from the action group …is considered a breach of the Constitutional Declaration and a deviation from the basis of founding a multi-cultural democratic state.”

In an interesting development, the CDA has relocated its work from Al-Bayda in eastern Libya to the west of the country; and has officially requested financial support from the GNC government in Tripoli.

Links for more information:
http://www.marsad.ly/en/tuareg-and-tebus-threaten-to-walk-out-of-constitution-drafting-assembly/
http://south.ly/wp/%D9%85%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84%D9%88-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B7%D9
http://www.marsad.ly/en/constituent-assembly-relocation/

Posted by Editor