TRIPOLI, June 25– The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced Wednesday that participants in the fourth round of consultations of the “4+4” Committee have reached a consensus on Libya’s presidential election law, a key step toward breaking the country’s long-standing political deadlock.
The “4+4” Committee, comprising four representatives from eastern Libya and four from the west, was launched by UNSMIL as an alternative mechanism to overcome the political impasse after Libya’s House of Representatives and the High Council of State failed to agree on amending electoral laws and appointing a new board for the High National Elections Commission (HNEC).
The UN has stressed that the committee is not a replacement for structured dialogue but rather a complementary mechanism to address specific obstacles.
In a statement, UNSMIL said the fourth round was held at its office in Tunis in a “positive and constructive” atmosphere, where participants built on previous understandings regarding the parliamentary election law and the completion of the HNEC board formation.
It said the consultations have resolved most issues related to the electoral process within the first two phases of a UN-facilitated roadmap.
It added that participants agreed to hold the fifth round of consultations during the first half of next month to continue discussions and build on the progress achieved.
The presidential election law is a critical component of Libya’s long-stalled political transition. The oil-rich North African country has been mired in conflict and division since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, remaining split between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and an eastern-based administration.
Presidential elections in Libya, originally scheduled for late 2021, were postponed indefinitely amid disputes over eligibility criteria, legal frameworks, and the constitutional basis for the vote.
Earlier this month, Libya’s key governing institutions agreed on a roadmap to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within eight months, by February 2027. (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
