Libya rival factions sign UN-backed deal to pave way for national elections
Representatives of Libya 's rival political factions on Sunday signed a UN-backed agreement aimed at resolving long-standing disputes that have blocked national elections in the divided north African country. The agreement, reached after months of talks in Rome and Tunis, was signed at the headquarters of the UN Support Mission in Libya (Unsmil) in Tripoli in the presence of mission chief Hanna…
On August 30, 2026, representatives from rival political factions in Libya signed a United Nations-backed agreement in Tripoli, paving the way for national elections. The deal, reached after months of negotiations in Rome and Tunis, marks the first step towards resolving longstanding disputes that have impeded the electoral process in the North African nation.
The agreement addresses the initial two stages of the UN Support Mission in Libya's (Unsmil) political roadmap: reconstituting the High National Electoral Commission and resolving disputes over the constitutional and legal framework governing elections.
Under the accord, electoral laws will be amended to permit presidential and parliamentary elections under a single executive authority, with the parties pledging to hold the elections within 24 months. The agreement also requires endorsement by the House of Representatives and the High State Council within a month, and sets up a follow-up mechanism to ensure implementation.
Unsmil chief Hanna Tetteh emphasized that the signing represents a crucial step towards overcoming the political and institutional obstacles hindering the electoral process in Libya. However, he cautioned that the agreement must be translated into "concrete actions" through national adoption, implementation of the electoral framework, and continued efforts to establish the necessary institutional and political conditions for fair elections.
UNSMIL praised the signing as a step towards the next phase of the political process, rather than its conclusion, urging Libya's political institutions and actors to honor their commitments and work towards a fair and inclusive election. Since the NATO-backed uprising ousted longtime ruler Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued by political instability, with the oil-rich country divided among rival political and military factions.
Two competing administrations claim authority: the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration backed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
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