On Wednesday, the South Tripoli Court of Appeals declared the recent presidential election of the High Council of State invalid, adding fresh uncertainty to the country’s ongoing political crisis.
The Court ruled to nullify the August 26 election, which saw Khaled Al-Mishri re-elected as the Council’s President. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by the former president, Mohamed Takala, who challenged the legitimacy of the session due to voting irregularities.
The court accepted Takala’s urgent appeal, temporarily halting the implementation of the election results until a final decision is reached. The case will now proceed to further legal review.
Takala argued that the election session was deeply flawed, claiming that two individuals who participated in the vote did not have the required membership credentials. He also pointed to unresolved issues regarding the invalidation of a voting ballot, which he said tainted the entire process.
This ruling threatens to deepen the political rift in Libya, which has been embroiled in factional power struggles since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The outcome of the court case will likely affect broader national efforts to end the political deadlock and advance stalled plans for general elections.
The High Council of State, established under the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), plays a key role in the country’s political process, acting as an advisory body and mediator in national matters. However, internal disputes have long plagued its operations, further destabilizing efforts toward national unity.
The court’s decision to suspend the election results underscores the growing tensions between rival factions within the High Council of State. It also comes at a time when Libya’s political landscape remains deeply fractured, with two competing governments—one based in Tripoli and the other in the east—vying for control.
The political turmoil has delayed national elections, initially scheduled for December 2021, and raised doubts over whether a peaceful resolution can be reached.
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