Libya’s Rivals Initialled an Election Deal. The UN Disputes the Text

A group of eight negotiators, four from each side of Libya's political split, finalised a draft election agreement in Tunis on 20 August 2026, marking a step forward in the nation's quest for democratic governance. However, two days later, the UN mission overseeing the process, UNSMIL, asserted that the public version of the agreement does not reflect the actual agreement reached by the parties.

The UN established this committee, known as the Small Convening, precisely because the rival legislatures had failed to come to an agreement on key issues, such as restructuring the High National Elections Commission and revising electoral laws. These two steps are essential prerequisites for holding a national election in Libya, a nation that has not seen a free vote since 2014 and lacks a permanent constitution.

The committee's composition is notably diverse, with four representatives from each side of the political divide - two from the western region under the Government of National Unity and two from the east, including members of the House of Representatives and figures allied with the general command led by General Haftar. Despite this complexity, the committee has made progress in recent months, with two of the six nominees for the High National Elections Commission confirmed on 22 August 2026.

UNSMIL expressed concerns about the accuracy of the information circulating about the draft final agreement, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining the integrity and validity of the process through confidentiality. The mission stressed that the official terms and details will be published once the negotiations are finalized and announced.

The progress in Tunisia has been welcomed by the US Embassy in Libya, which sees it as an important step towards a credible path leading to successful national elections. They reaffirmed their commitment to supporting dialogue among the Libyan parties and working with UNSMIL and international partners. France also showed support through the presence of their presidential envoy for Libya, Paul Soler, during the talks in Tripoli on 22 August.

Despite these developments, Libya's institutional split remains a significant obstacle. The country's split has far-reaching implications, affecting resources such as oil revenue, the central bank, and access to hard currency. The elections commission, with its agreed board and law, is crucial for addressing these issues, as it would provide a unified framework for conducting national elections.

However, the caution is warranted, given Libya's history of agreements that were never published, and its ongoing struggle to establish a permanent constitution and hold elections.