UN official says 71% voter turnout shows Libya's push for elections

HAMILTON, Canada

The UN's senior official for Libya described Thursday the recent municipal elections turnout of 71% as a signal of the strong demand for political representation and stability.

"Our meeting takes place after 26 Libyan municipalities successfully went to the polls on 16 August in spite of significant challenges," Hanna Tetteh told the Security Council, hailing Libya's High National Elections Commission (HNEC) as well as security officials "for making the elections possible."

"By the end of polling day, voter turnout was 71%. This is a clear signal that the Libyan people are yearning to elect their representatives," she said. "In some areas, this was the first time any elections had happened since 2014."

She outlined a roadmap built around three pillars: "The implementation of a technically sound and politically viable electoral framework aimed at holding Presidential and Legislative elections; unifying institutions through a new unified government; and a structured dialogue that enables broad participation of Libyans to address the critical issues."

Tetteh warned that "the security situation in the country remains volatile, with increasing militarization of all sides. The situation in Tripoli remains of great concern."

Urging the Council to act decisively, she stressed that "the Libyan people look to this esteemed Council for help, to ensure a solution to the crisis and support a political process that will result in elections and unified institutions."

"Your ability to speak and act with one voice is a message that will resonate across Libya," she added.

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: one led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, which controls the west of the country, and another appointed by the House of Representatives (parliament) in early 2022, led by Osama Hammad and based in Benghazi, which governs the east and much of the south.