The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has warned of a deepening political rift between the Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State over the restructuring of the board of the High National Elections Commission, describing the dispute as a serious threat to Libya’s political roadmap.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the UN mission said it was “deeply concerned” by the escalating disagreement between the two legislative bodies regarding the reconstitution of the HNEC board, stressing that the issue represents one of the core pillars of the country’s political transition. The mission noted that Libya has yet to reach a long-awaited agreement on the commission, despite the matter remaining unresolved for more than a decade.
UNSMIL expressed regret that, instead of working toward consensus on a long-standing national issue, both councils have engaged in what it described as a path of mutual escalation. The mission warned that this approach risks opening a new chapter of institutional division and political fragmentation.
The UN mission renewed its call for an immediate halt to all unilateral measures, holding both the House of Representatives and the High Council of State responsible for any steps that could undermine the unity or future effectiveness of the elections commission.
It underlined that the High National Elections Commission remains one of the few national institutions that has preserved its institutional cohesion, demonstrating technical competence and organizational capacity in managing previous electoral processes. UNSMIL emphasized the importance of shielding the commission from political polarization and power struggles.
Reaffirming its readiness to assist both legislative bodies in reaching a consensual solution, the UN mission said it would continue working with the current board of commissioners to advance preparations for presidential and parliamentary elections. It stressed that any future polls must be based on a sound, credible, and implementable electoral framework capable of restoring public confidence and moving Libya out of its prolonged political deadlock.
