Rival Libya factions sign deal to hold national elections within two years

Libyan political leaders have reached a deal to hold national elections within two years, addressing issues surrounding electoral laws and the reforms of the national elections body. The landmark agreement took place at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) headquarters in Tripoli, following a series of talks among the four main institutions in the country.

Walid Ellafi, a minister in the Government of National Unity, emphasized that legislative and presidential elections should be conducted within 24 months under a unified executive authority. Shibani AbuHamoud, commander of the Libyan National Army's delegation, stated that the four-party group would collaborate with UNSMIL to draft a plan and implement it within a month of the agreement's signing.

The pact stipulates that if the House of Representatives and High Council of State do not endorse the agreement within a month, the parties will attempt to ratify it as a constitutional document through broader national channels and gain international support through the United Nations Security Council. Despite a decade of conflict, Libya experienced a 2020 ceasefire, but the majority of its political factions have consistently demanded elections.

However, many Libyans question whether they would support a vote that could potentially strip them of their current positions of power.