The High National Election Commission (HNEC) has announced that municipal elections for the third group of Libyan municipalities will be held on October 18, marking a new step in the gradual resumption of local polls repeatedly postponed since 2021.
According to the HNEC’s decision, 16 municipalities will take part in this round of voting, while a second round is scheduled for October 20 in 12 other towns where municipal councils’ mandates have expired or where previous elections were disrupted.
Article III of the decision instructs the operational administration to draw up a detailed plan covering all stages of the electoral process — including staffing, logistics, and financial arrangements for polling stations. The Commission emphasised the need to adapt resources to the specific conditions of each constituency to ensure a transparent and secure vote.
However, the HNEC noted that several areas under the control of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar remain excluded from the process. Twelve municipalities are still suspended due to what the Commission described as “obstructions to voter card distribution” and the closure of polling centers without prior notice. The HNEC called on the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and local authorities to resolve these issues and facilitate the resumption of elections in the affected regions.
These municipal elections form part of a phased plan launched in early 2025 to restart Libya’s electoral process by renewing local institutions ahead of national polls. Despite ongoing tensions between eastern and western authorities, the HNEC reiterated its commitment to maintaining its timetable “free from political interference,” stressing that the stability of municipal institutions is a key prerequisite for any lasting political settlement.
MK/ac/lb/as/APA