The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) issued issued a press statement on Tuesday hailing the Aug. 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 agreement, reached through the Smaller Convening (also known as the 4+4 Committee) and promoted by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), sets a path for institutional reunification and elections.
The Council praised the constructive engagement of the parties, encouraged its implementation and reaffirmed its commitment to a UN-supported “Libyan-led and Libyan-responsible political process.” It also called for further progress in 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. At issue are 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 parliamentary elections. They also agreed to allow dual nationals to run for office (with the winner having to renounce non-Libyan citizenship before taking office) and to allow military personnel to vote and stand for election after resigning from their official positions. The previous link between presidential and parliamentary election results will be removed and a second round of voting will no longer be mandatory if a candidate achieves an absolute majority.
The elections will be held within 24 months under a single executive authority and unified national institutions. The parties committed to developing an implementation framework and obtaining national consent within one month of the signing of the agreement, which would give the agreement the status of a constitutional document.
Libya has been divided since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Competing factions caused institutional fragmentation, internal militia conflicts, and prevented national elections. Previous UN-brokered agreements, including the Skhirat Agreement 2015 and the 2021 Government of National Unity process failed to produce lasting unity or elections. The current agreement aims to address the issues that led to the collapse of the 2021 elections after UNSMIL pushed for reformed Libyan electoral laws, a unified government and new elections.
The United Nations Security Council’s approval signals unified support for the agreement and strengthens confidence in a Libyan-led political process. Council members recently pointed out that the restoration of unified institutions is necessary to stabilize Libya’s fragile security and economic situation ongoing concerns on foreign interference in elections and compliance with the UN arms embargo. Success now depends on the political will to move from agreement to implementation.
