Spotlight: 4 years after Gaddafi's death, Libya transition back to square one

Sunday marks the four-year anniversary of the NATO-led intervention that killed former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Only a few days earlier, the country's rival parties finally signed a peace deal aimed at restarting the political transition after years of turmoil.

Over the past few years, Libyans who once dreamed about a new beginning after the so-call revolution only saw their nation descending into chaos and anarchy, as well as a de facto split-up.

"Safe is no guarantee. Before the kidnappers and robbers only targeted foreigners but now they turned to locals. This shows the deteriorating security here." a 46-year old writer who declined to disclose his name living in Zawiya told Xinhua.

Besides a 20-hour-long power cut during the hot summer days, frequent long queues were seen piling up outside the fuel stations due to the shortages and mismanagement.

Some citizens even chose to live in the neighboring Tunisia, opting a haven for both rich and poor alike. According to the Tunisian government, an estimation of two million Libyans are now dwelling in Tunisia.

The political transition also stagnated with the constitution undone and the elected government on exile. The country, until recently, had been juggling two parliaments, General National Congress(GNC) based in Tripoli, which is supported by Islamist militants and the elected one House of Representatives(HOR) in the eastern town of Tobruk.

Forces loyal to the two major factions were warring with each other in cities like Tripoli, Benghazi and Gharyan, causing a humanitarian crisis with at least 120,000 people forced to leave their homes, and resulting in consequent shortages in both food and medical supplies along with mounting numbers of casualties.

A NEW HOPE?

The rival factions on Dec. 17 signed a UN-brokered political agreement aimed at ending the conflicts and join hands in building a Government of National Accord.

Under the deal, the nine members in the presidential council appointed during the peace talks will form a government in a month, and HOR as the main legislature, and a State Council as a consultative assembly.

Although the agreement is dubbed as "a historical page turner," the new sets of institutions face major challenges, analysts warned.

Abdul-Hafid Bilal, political analyst for the University of Zawiye, said there are still hardliners rejecting the UN-brokered deal, especially in the Islamist armed group Revolutionary Operation Room, who are occupying the capital of Tripoli and might make troubles for the new government. Bilal added that it's also dangerous to implement the plans without a detailed security plan and it might take time for situation to turn.

Likewise, UN Special Envoy to Libya Martin Kobler also said, "we cannot forget this is just a beginning of the hard journey." Endit