Libya's speaker of House of Representatives (HoR), Aguila Saleh, announced late Wednesday that he will be running for president, making him the latest candidate to join the race for the country's highest office after years of civil war.
Saleh, 77, who has led the country's House of Representatives since 2014, announced his candidacy in a video statement. The elections are supposed to be held on Dec. 24.
He has been a fixture on Libya's political scene in recent years. The body he heads came to power through elections in 2014 that ended up being contested.
In the aftermath, the country split further into territories with rival authorities, and the lawmaking body fled from the capital of Tripoli to the eastern city of Tobruk after a court ruled it was no longer legitimate.
We are working to overcome the past, and close the chapter of conflict, and to embark on the future, Saleh said in the video statement.
Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011, who was later killed.
The oil-rich nation has for years been split between a government in the east, backed by military commander Khalifa Hafter, and a U.N.-supported administration in Tripoli, aided by Western-based Libyan militias.
Since February, a unity government that was appointed by U.N.-led talks has been meant to lead the country to the December elections. In recent days, several high-profile candidates have come forward.
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