Libyan Rival Factions Sign UN-Backed Agreement to Clear Path for National Elections

Representatives of Libya's rival political factions signed a UN-backed agreement on Sunday to resolve long-standing disputes that have stalled national elections in the divided North African country. Achieved following months of negotiations in Rome and Tunis, the deal was signed at the headquarters of the UN Support Mission in Libya (Unsmil) in Tripoli, with mission chief Hanna Tetteh in attendance.

Unsmil stated that the accord tackles the first two phases of its political road map: reorganizing the High National Electoral Commission and settling ongoing disputes regarding the constitutional and legal frameworks for presidential and parliamentary elections. Under the agreement, electoral laws will be adjusted to enable presidential and parliamentary votes to take place under a single executive authority, with all parties pledging to conduct the elections within a 24-month timeframe.

The accord also mandates endorsement by the House of Representatives and the High State Council within one month, while establishing a follow-up mechanism to ensure implementation. "Today's signing represents an important step towards overcoming the political and institutional impasse that has hindered the electoral process in Libya," Ms Tetteh remarked. However, she cautioned that the agreement must be translated into tangible actions through national adoption, the enforcement of the agreed electoral framework, and ongoing efforts to foster conditions for fair elections.

Unsmil noted that the signing signifies progress toward the next stage of the political process rather than its completion, urging Libya's political institutions and actors to fulfill their commitments. Libya has experienced persistent political instability since a NATO-backed uprising removed longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, leaving the oil-producing nation split between competing political and military factions. Two rival administrations continue to assert authority: the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and an eastern administration supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

Libya was originally scheduled to hold a presidential election in December 2021 as part of a UN-backed unification initiative, but the vote was postponed indefinitely due to disagreements over election rules. The UN introduced a new political road map in August 2025 to establish a viable electoral framework, conduct general elections, and form a unified government and national institutions. Sunday's accord operates separately from a diplomatic initiative led by Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump's senior adviser on Arab and African affairs, which has promoted rapprochement between eastern and western Libyan authorities. Previous UN-led mediation efforts have frequently broken down over disputes concerning electoral rules, control of state institutions, and the allocation of Libya's oil revenue.