Libya’s rival factions sign UN-backed election deal

On Sunday, representatives of Libya's rival political factions signed a United Nations-backed agreement aimed at resolving longstanding disputes that have blocked national elections in the divided North African nation. The accord, reached after months of negotiations in Rome and Tunis, was signed at the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) headquarters in Tripoli, attended by mission chief Hanna Tetteh.

The agreement addresses the first two phases of the political roadmap: establishing the High National Electoral Commission and resolving disagreements over the constitutional and legal structure governing presidential and parliamentary elections. The deal stipulates that electoral laws will be amended to permit the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections under a single executive authority, with parties pledging to conduct the elections within 24 months.

Both the House of Representatives and the High State Council must formally approve the agreement within one month, and a follow-up mechanism to aid implementation has been established. UNSMIL chief Hanna Tetteh hailed the signing as a significant step towards breaking the political and institutional deadlock that has impeded the electoral process in Libya, but cautioned that it must be translated into concrete actions such as the adoption of the agreed electoral framework at the national level and the ongoing pursuit of conditions necessary for holding fair elections.

UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) hailed the signing of the agreement between rival factions as a crucial milestone in advancing the political process in Libya, and emphasized the need for Libyan political institutions and actors to abide by their commitments and strive for a fair and inclusive electoral process. Libya has been engulfed in political turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi in 2011, resulting in the country's division among rival political and military factions.

Two competing administrations continue to assert authority: the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli and an eastern administration supported by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Libya was scheduled to hold a presidential election in December 2021 as part of a UN-backed initiative intended to unify the country, but the vote was indefinitely postponed due to disputes over electoral rules.

The United Nations unveiled a political roadmap in August 2025 aimed at creating a "politically viable electoral framework," conducting general elections, and establishing a unified government and national institutions. Sunday's agreement stands apart from a diplomatic initiative spearheaded by Massad Boulos, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump on Arab and African affairs, which has sought to foster reconciliation between authorities in eastern and western Libya.

Previous UN-backed efforts to achieve a durable political settlement have consistently faltered due to disagreements over the electoral framework, control of state institutions, and the allocation of Libya's vast oil revenue.