Regional projects are on the rise in Libya amid fears of the country's division.
Ahmed Salem
Public opinion in Libya is suffering from fears of falling into the trap of dividing the country into multiple regions, coinciding with the emergence of successive initiatives to establish new regions.
Following each initiative, fears escalate of a deepening political and geographical division in the country, and the redrawing of the Libyan state map based on random and tribal whims and foundations.
The initiatives for division began with the announcement by politician and head of the Summit Party, Abdullah Al-Naker, of his intention to establish the “Greater Hamada Region”.
This comes a week after the city of Misrata announced the establishment of what it calls the ”Central Region,” a move that has increased the controversy over the future form of the Libyan state.
The increase in similar projects in other parts of the country is fueling concerns, especially as the Libyan state is still suffering from fragile institutions and stalled settlement processes.
Libya: The goals behind the partition initiatives
The aim of creating zoning and regionalization projects is to guarantee the rights of the residents of these areas and to achieve justice in the distribution of opportunities, services and development, according to some of those in charge of these initiatives.
They emphasized that these proposed projects fall within the demands for expanding decentralization and strengthening local administration, without carrying any separatist character for the country's regions from each other.
The calls for division that have begun to appear inside Libya have raised many questions about whether the country is heading towards a new stage of tribal and regional pluralism, amid widespread fears about the deepening of the division and its entry into serious stages, especially with the rise of regional rhetoric in a number of regions.
Libya celebrates cultural diversity and the role of women
On another note, the Minister of State for Women's Affairs, Professor Intisar Aboud In the city of Shahat, at the invitation of the Miza Development Organization, a community session was held to celebrate the International Day for Cultural Diversity under the slogan «Libya… Multiple Civilizations and Cultures,» in the presence of a select group of people interested in cultural and community affairs, representatives of official institutions, and civil society organizations.
During her participation, Her Excellency the Minister stressed that the International Day for Cultural Diversity represents an opportunity to emphasize the importance of diversity as a source of strength, unity and richness for societies, noting that Libya is rich in a diverse civilizational and cultural heritage that reflects the depth of its history and its inclusive national identity.
She also stressed the pivotal role of Libyan women in preserving cultural heritage and transmitting human and national values between generations, emphasizing that promoting a culture of dialogue, coexistence and acceptance of others begins with the family, and with the role of women in education, awareness and building social peace.
