Libyan factions sign initial election pact amid institutional divisions

Libyan political factions representing the rival eastern and western administrations signed an initial election pact on Monday, pledging to cooperate on a timetable for nationwide polls that could mark the first unified vote since the 2011 uprising. The agreement, brokered by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and witnessed by senior diplomats from the European Union and the United States, outlines a joint committee to oversee voter registration, security arrangements and the establishment of an independent electoral commission. Both sides said the pact reflects a “new political momentum” toward restoring constitutional order and ending the decade‑long stalemate that has fragmented the country’s institutions.

Nevertheless, analysts warn that the pact’s implementation faces significant hurdles. Libya’s two rival governments continue to operate separate ministries of interior, justice and defense, creating parallel security structures that could impede the safe conduct of elections. Moreover, the legal framework governing the electoral process remains incomplete, with unresolved questions about the constitution’s status, the legitimacy of the electoral commission and the criteria for candidate eligibility. The United Nations has urged Libyan authorities to close these gaps swiftly, but the deep institutional divisions and lingering mistrust suggest that the path to a credible, nationwide vote remains uncertain.