Libya asks for more international help to carry out elections
On July 21st Emad Al-Sayeh, head of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in Libya, met with Stephanie Koury, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, to review the role of international bodies in supporting Libya’s election progress.
The Libya Review reported on July 21st that their meeting focused on the second round of municipal elections in Libya, which are scheduled to take place by mid-August of 2025.
The progress of these elections has not been smooth so far, with authorities of the government in eastern Libya completely suspending the distribution of voter cards in some areas, but the HNEC is in the final phase of organizing these elections.
Khoury reaffirmed in their meeting the UN’s commitment to support the HNEC, and stressed that successfully carrying out municipal elections is essential to move onto successful national elections and eventually bring Libya to political stability.
The UN, who backs the western government based in Tripoli, has a prominent role in Libya and its politics with a “strong commitment to an inclusive Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations and supported by the international community.”
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been extended multiple times due to the failure to carry out elections so far.
Al-Sayeh stated that the HNEC is committed to a timeline for elections with a high standard of integrity of transparency, but warned that this would not be possible without effecting international engagement.
He called on international partners to increase their involvement, emphasising that due to the political divides and agendas in Libya, two rival administrations and various armed militias battling for power, the involvement of international bodies is crucial, particularly the UN.
Khoury agreed with Al-Sayeh that the HNEC needs more cooperation with international partners and donors to overcome political obstacles in Libya, according to the Libya Review.
Libya Review/Maghrebi
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