UN-backed Libyan deal paves way for elections within 24 months

Libya’s “4+4” Joint Committee signed a United Nations-brokered agreement in Tripoli on Sunday to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within 24 months.

Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, welcomed the deal, describing it as a significant step toward ending the country’s political division.

The agreement stipulates that elections must take place within two years, calls for the restructuring of the electoral commission, and names Dhou al-Hamali as its new head, replacing Emad al-Sayeh.

It also allows dual nationals and military personnel to run for office, provided they renounce their second nationality before taking the constitutional oath.

The deal recommends rerunning the presidential election if the winning candidate fails to relinquish a second nationality before being sworn in. It also separates the outcomes of the parliamentary and presidential votes and removes the requirement for a second round in the presidential race.

Article 5 states that the agreement will be adopted nationally and internationally—through a broadly representative mechanism and the UN Security Council—if the House of Representatives and the High Council of State do not approve it within a month of signing.

UN envoy Hanna Tetteh attended the signing ceremony, describing the agreement as a step toward Libya’s stability and the unification of its institutions.

The “4+4” Committee includes four representatives from the Tripoli government and four from eastern authorities. Its mandate is to address electoral issues as part of the UN roadmap announced in August 2025, which focuses on implementing an electoral framework, unifying institutions, and holding an inclusive national dialogue.

Dbeibah and Haftar welcome the agreement

Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of Tripoli, welcomed the signing, calling it “an important step that strengthens the path we have advocated from the start—ending transitional phases and moving toward elections.”

In a Facebook post, Dbeibah added: “Our vision has always been clear: the decision must be for the Libyan people, through elections that end division and grant all institutions true legitimacy from the will of the citizens, away from arrangements that reproduce existing phases and bodies.”

He expressed hope that “this agreement will be a practical step in the right direction, maintaining the priority of elections and opening the way for a national milestone that puts Libya on the path to stability and development.”

Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, also welcomed the final signing, saying: “We see this as an important step toward removing obstacles that have long prevented the Libyan people from achieving their aspirations for simultaneous presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible.”

In a Facebook post, Haftar added: “The General Command has done everything possible, taking positive and responsible initiatives to help resolve disputes and bring parties closer together. It remains committed to unifying the country and its institutions, ending division, and reaching elections where Libyans freely choose their leadership.”

He stressed that “the next phase must be one of implementation and entitlement, aimed at unifying Libya and moving without delay toward simultaneous presidential and legislative elections, fulfilling the Libyan people’s will to build a unified and stable state.”