A divided country, disputed elections, and a fragile roadmap to stability
UNITED NATIONS — Nearly 15 years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains caught between rival administrations, cycles of transitional governments, and a restless population pressing for long-promised national elections.
This week, Hannah Tetteh, head of the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), told the Security Council that the Libyan people are “yearning to elect their representatives” but face entrenched obstacles that continue to block progress.
“The Libyan people look to this esteemed Council for help,” Ms. Tetteh said, urging support for a political process that would deliver elections and unified institutions rather than yet another temporary government.
Municipal Elections Amid Disruptions
Last Saturday, 26 municipalities managed to hold elections despite a turbulent climate. The country’s electoral commission reported turnout at 71 percent, a striking number in a country where some communities had not voted since 2014.
But the successes were marred by disruption. In eastern Libya, authorities suspended the electoral process in 16 municipalities, pulling voting materials from centers across the region and the south. In the west, election offices in three cities were set ablaze or attacked, though balloting proceeded in two of them.
“The suspension of elections in the east and south is an equally clear sign that not all are committed to supporting Libya’s democratic development,” Ms. Tetteh said, calling for a reset in the political process.
A Roadmap to National Elections
General elections were scheduled for 2021 but never materialized. In February, UNSMIL convened an Advisory Committee to break the deadlock. Its May report was followed by nationwide consultations and an online survey that drew more than 22,500 responses. The message, Ms. Tetteh said, was clear: Libyans want an end to repeated transitional periods, foreign interference, and weak institutions.
Her proposed roadmap rests on three pillars:
- A technically sound and politically viable electoral framework.
- A unified government to oversee elections and governance.
- Structured dialogue to address core disputes.
The plan envisions 12 to 18 months of sequential steps, from legal reforms to boosting the electoral commission’s capacity, culminating in legislative and presidential elections. A unified interim government, she said, could be agreed within two months “if there were the political will to do so.”
Security, Rights, and Refugees
Libya’s political gridlock unfolds against a backdrop of worsening security and human rights abuses. In Tripoli, clashes erupted in May, leaving a fragile truce in place but violations ongoing.
UNSMIL has documented 20 deaths in custody since March, including that of political activist Abdel Munim Al-Maremi, who died last month shortly after a release order was issued.
“These cases are the latest examples of a widespread and persistent pattern of grave violations perpetrated with impunity,” Ms. Tetteh said, noting abuses against migrants and refugees, often fueled by disinformation and hate speech.
She also sounded the alarm over forced returns of migrants to conflict zones, including Sudan. In the southern city of Kufra, she said, Sudanese refugees now outnumber residents, stretching local resources and demanding urgent donor support.
A Country Still Waiting
For many Libyans, the municipal elections, however disrupted, offered a rare chance to express their political will. But the broader national path remains uncertain.
If Ms. Tetteh’s roadmap succeeds, Libya could finally see presidential and legislative elections within two years. If not, the country risks extending a pattern of broken promises that has defined its post-Gaddafi era.
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