UN Security Council welcomes Libyan election deal as “important step” toward national elections – JURIST

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued a press statement Tuesday, hailing the August 30 agreement between Libya’s rival political factions as “an important step” toward facilitating the country’s first national elections in more than a decade. The deal, reached by the “Smaller Convening” (also known as the 4+4 committee) and facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), lays out a path for institutional reunification and elections.

The Council commended the parties’ constructive engagement, encouraged its implementation, and reaffirmed its commitment to a UN-facilitated, “Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process.” It also urged further progress on unifying military, security, and executive institutions.

The agreement was signed by representatives of the Government of National Unity, the General Command, the House of Representatives, and the High Council of State. It addresses long-standing disputes over the composition of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and the legal framework for presidential and parliamentary elections.

The parties agreed to reconstitute the HNEC board and adopt the laws that would form the basis for the presidential and legislative elections. They also agreed to allow dual nationals to run for office (with the winner required to renounce non-Libyan citizenship before taking office) and to allow military personnel to vote and stand as candidates after stepping down from their official posts. The previous linkage between presidential and legislative election results is eliminated, and a second round is no longer mandatory if a candidate wins an absolute majority.

Elections will be held within 24 months under a single executive authority and unified national institutions. The parties entered into a commitment to develop an implementation framework within one month of signing the agreement and to seek national endorsement that would give the agreement the status of a constitutional document.

Libya has been divided since the 2011 NATO-backed revolt. Competing factions caused institutional fragmentation, internecine militia conflict, and prevented national elections. Previous UN-brokered agreements, including the 2015 Skhirat Agreement and the 2021 Government of National Unity process, failed to produce lasting unity or elections. The current agreement is aimed at addressing the issues that led to the collapse of the 2021 elections, following a period in which UNSMIL pushed for reformed Libyan electoral laws, a unified government, and new elections.

The UNSC’s endorsement signals unified support for the agreement and promotes confidence in a Libyan-led political process. Council members recently stressed that restoring unified institutions is needed to stabilize Libya’s fragile security and economic situation, amid ongoing concerns about foreign influence on elections and respect for the UN arms embargo. Success now depends on political will to move from agreement to implementation.