Former UN adviser on Libya Stephanie Williams has accused Libya’s outgoing Government of National Unity (GNU) head Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba of reneging on a clear commitment not to run in presidential elections, describing his later candidacy as a “blatant lie” and a breach of promises made to the Libyan people.
In a televised interview, Williams said Dbaiba pledged—both verbally and in writing—during the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) not to seek the presidency. She argued that his subsequent decision to enter the race undermined public trust and contributed to the collapse of the electoral process.
Williams also assessed the 2021 electoral landscape, saying none of the three most prominent figures—Khalifa Haftar, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, or Dbaiba—commanded nationwide consensus. As a result, none could effectively campaign across all regions. She noted that Saif al-Islam lived under tight constraints in Zintan, Dbaiba faced rejection in the east and south, while Haftar was unwelcome in the west—leaving the process vulnerable to failure, compounded by disputed election laws.
According to Williams, repeated violations of commitments reached during dialogue rounds repeatedly derailed progress toward a decisive vote. She criticized what she called a culture of duplicity among political elites, remarking that “Libyan politicians shoot at each other by day and share money by night through deals.”
Williams said talks in Cairo to amend electoral laws between House Speaker Aqeela Saleh and then–High Council of State head Khaled al-Mishri achieved substantial progress, particularly on decentralization and revenue sharing. However, disputes over the eligibility of military personnel and dual nationals persisted.
She recalled that after moving negotiations to Geneva, a draft was agreed and a signing date set, only for the deal to collapse over wording on dual nationality. Williams said it became clear Saleh could not proceed, later linking the breakdown to a reported power-sharing arrangement over the National Oil Corporation.
Rejecting claims that the UN-backed roadmap was designed to fail, Williams said it included clear timelines and objectives that were repeatedly missed without consequences. She faulted the international community for easing pressure too soon, arguing that sustained engagement was needed to prevent renewed stalling by Libya’s ruling class.
Williams added that foreign interference was absent in the early LPDF phase, which began in Montreux at Libyan parties’ request, but emerged during attempts to form a second government in 2021–2022. While media reports alleged bribery, she said she saw no direct evidence before leaving office, warning that withholding verified findings would be worse than disclosure.
Her remarks come amid ongoing deadlock over a constitutional basis for elections, with Libyan factions trading blame for the prolonged political impasse.
