Libya: UN-brokered agreement seeks to revive prospects for elections

Representatives from eastern and western Libya signed an agreement in Tripoli on Sunday, 30 August, aimed at advancing the process towards national elections. The signing took place under the auspices of the United Nations.

The stated goal is to try to break the electoral deadlock in a country that has remained divided between two sides for around fifteen years. The agreement is therefore intended to open a path towards a nationwide vote.

A timeline conditional on unification

The elections could be held within no more than twenty-four months. However, this deadline remains tied to a major condition: the unification of Libya’s two governments.

The conclusion of this agreement does not, on its own, resolve the country’s institutional division. Rather, it sets a framework for trying to move towards the holding of elections, provided that this reunification can be achieved.

An issue monitored by Washington

The Libyan issue is also being pursued by US diplomacy. Its involvement adds to the role of the United Nations in efforts to unlock the prospect of national elections.