Libya - July 2024

The High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in Libya announced that 176,339 voters, including 47,979 women, have registered to participate in the upcoming elections for 60 of the country’s 106 municipal councils. The elections are scheduled for 27 August and are due to be followed by elections for the remainder of the councils. Despite backing from both the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the House of Representatives (HoR), media reports suggest that many Libyans remain skeptical of the electoral process due to the country’s de facto division. Voter registration, particularly among women, remains notably low. Efforts by the HNEC and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to boost registration encountered significant obstacles, with reports indicating that 10 out of 12 centers in Libya’s eastern municipalities were unable to open. While municipal elections are considered a vital initial step toward establishing broader electoral procedures in the country, there is still uncertainty as to whether these elections will be held.

Sources: HNEC, Al Araby Al Jadeed, Libya Al Ahrar, Al Watan, UNSMIL