Libya's Rival Governments Agree to National Elections Within Two Years

Representatives of Libya’s rival governments signed a deal to hold national elections within two years following years of political divisions. The agreement, signed on Sunday, states that legislative and presidential elections will occur under a single executive authority within a "period not exceeding 24 months," according to Walid Ellafi, state minister of political affairs and communications in the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, based in Tripoli. The signing ceremony took place in Tripoli at the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) after the UN-backed "4+4 committee" signed an initial draft in Tunis on August 20. The committee comprised four representatives from the House of Representatives, based in eastern Libya, and four representatives from the High Council of State, linked to the Government of National Unity in the west. Libya has been divided since 2014 between two opposing administrations: the internationally recognized government and an eastern administration backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar. Shibani AbuHamoud, head of the general delegation of Haftar’s forces, stated that they would work with UNSMIL on a "framework within one month of the signing of the agreement to follow up on all matters related to its implementation." However, the agreement notes that if the House of Representatives and the High Council of State do not approve the deal within a month, it would be adopted nationally by the parties as a constitutional document and would receive international support through the UN Security Council. Analysts express skepticism regarding the success of the agreement, highlighting that the real issue of governance in Libya remains unresolved, particularly concerning control over the country’s resources and the sensitive security environment. Since the 2011 rebellion that toppled leader Muammar Gaddafi, the UN and other mediators have been attempting to unify the country, but implementation continues to pose significant challenges. A presidential election has faced repeated delays due to political disputes.