UN Mission in Libya Reaffirms Support for Electoral Commission to Strengthen Credibility of Elections
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reaffirmed on Monday its continued close cooperation with the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to enhance its operational readiness and support efforts to build Libyan citizens’ confidence in the credibility of the electoral process.
According to a statement cited by the Libyan News Agency (LANA), the Commission has in place legal mechanisms and procedures allowing challenges to election results, thereby ensuring transparency and integrity in the voting process and strengthening the legitimacy of upcoming electoral events.
UNSMIL emphasized that its support for the HNEC “falls within the framework of ongoing efforts to consolidate citizens’ trust in national institutions and their ability to organize inclusive, credible elections that reflect the will of the Libyan people across all regions of the country.” It added that the electoral process “is not a one-time event, but a continuous path that requires sustained technical and institutional support,” reaffirming its commitment “to support this approach in line with the political roadmap adopted under the auspices of the United Nations.”
On Sunday, UNSMIL welcomed the successful conduct of elections for 16 municipal councils in the eastern, western, and southern regions of Libya, praising the calm and incident-free atmosphere during the vote. For its part, the Libyan High National Elections Commission announced on Saturday the closure of voting and the beginning of ballot counting for the third round of municipal elections, reporting a voter turnout of 68% and confirming that the elections were held in an “orderly and secure” manner.
It is worth noting that in November 2024, the Commission completed the first phase of local elections in 58 municipalities out of a total of 143. The second phase took place on August 16 and 23 in 33 other municipalities out of 49 planned, while elections in 16 municipalities were postponed due to security reasons. Local elections in Libya are being held in stages, given the varying expiration dates of municipal councils’ mandates, with those reaching the end of their term incorporated into the upcoming electoral calendar.
