The restoration of a Constitutional Monarchy in Libya could bring stability to the region
Muammar Gadaffi overthrew the Constitutional Monarchy in Libya a military coup in 1969 and I have no doubt that King Idriss successor, his great nephew Crown Prince Mohammed Al- Senussi who resides in London could play a vital role in bringing the Libyan warring factions to reach a peace agreement.
The restoration of the Constitutional Monarchy could undoubtedly be used as a unifying force and I am surprised that the UN has not invited Prince Mohammed to their brokered peace talks to end the eight month civil war being held in Geneva since Thursday.
The restored King could arbitrate the peace talks between the Islamist-leaning Libya Dawn forces now controlling the capital and the internationally recognised government temporarily quartered in the eastern city of Tubruq.
UN special envoy Bernardino León has been struggling for months to bring together the two warring sides of the conflict that has left hundreds dead, prompted a wave of refugees and drastically lowered the oil-rich country’s hydrocarbon output. So how is it that he has not invited the Crown Prince as Libya is falling really very deeply in chaos?
Mr León said in a press conference ahead of the meeting that it is not only the political chaos with the competing institutions, competing governments, competing chairmen of public companies but there is military and security chaos, more fighting everywhere in the country. As the aim of the talks is to end the fighting and agree proposals to form a new transitional government it would only be logical that as the revolution that overthrew Gaddafi has adopted the Royal flag and the Royal National Anthem for post revolutionary Libya, the heir to the Crown would be invited to play an active part in the future of the country and invited to participate as a key figure of these peace talks.
Since its longtime ruler, Muammer al-Gaddafi, was toppled in a 2011 by a NATO backed armed uprising, Libya has been spiraling deeper into chaos. A wave of assassinations by presumed Islamist militants targeting the uniformed security forces gave rise to Khalifa Haftar, a former general in the Lybian army, who last May launched an ongoing land and air war against Islamist militias and those rooted in the third-largest city of Misurata.
After losing parliamentary elections in June last year, the Misurata and Islamist-backed Libya Dawn militias seized control of the capital and declared their own government, and began fighting Gen Haftar’s so-called Dignity forces in an effort to take territory. The internationally recognized government was forced to relocate to the eastern city of Tubruq.
The conflict has engulfed much of the north African nation’s densely populated northeast and northwest, and spread to the country’s desert south. Amid the chaos, jihadi groups, including affiliates of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the militant group known as Isis, have emerged in some parts of the country, alarming international security officials. This is a real danger for the peace of the region.
With oil prices near a six-year low, the country’s once robust economy is also in tatters, with the its Tripoli-based central bank governor, Saddek Omar El-Kaber, warning that the country’s reserves are rapidly draining.
Mr León, backed by the US, UK and EU, has been shuttling around the country to muster up support for the talks. Among those in attendance were “representatives” of the elected parliament, including the Dawn and Dignity camps, as well as members of civil society but the Crown Prince sadly is conspicuously absent
The unfortunate thing is that several key players have flatly rejected the talks but would not the Crown Prince who as Constitutional King should the Crown be restored, be able to invite all warring factions to sit round a conference table to discuss the future of a progressive and modern Libya for the benefit of the nation?
Those factions not willing to accept the invitation of the Crown Prince would be seen as unpatriotic by all peace loving Libyans.
Libyans cannot allow the extremist groups to exploit such talks to allow terrorism and extremism, especially those groups that attack Libyans’ livelihoods, and the state’s institutions, and its airports from Tripoli to oil ports.
Libyan political insiders described the assemblage as positive but were sceptical that the talks would result in a settlement of the conflict. It is my sincere opinion that Crown Prince Mohammed Al-Senussi should be a key player in a peaceful and democratic Libya.
Libya became the first North African country to become independent under King Idriss. Justly so and to honour this fact, the Libyan government has decided to rehabilitate the late King by a decree made public on March 4th, 2014 and the government of Ali Zeidan has restored the Libyan nationality to the deceased king and his family and will return to the royal family all property confiscated by Muammar Gaddafi after his coup.
I trust that the Western forces that helped Libyans overthrow the dictatorial regime of Gadaffi will have the vision that the logical future of Libya could be the restoration of its Constitutional Monarchy ,should all sides agree that a King above politics will bring the much desired stability that the country needs and that all Libyans desire.
Please visit http://mohammedelsenussi.org/
