The High National Elections Commission (HNEC) of Libya has announced the resumption of municipal elections across several regions this month, marking a key step toward completing the country’s ongoing decentralisation process.
The Commission has set 18 October as the voting day for 16 municipalities included in the third group of local elections. These include Awjila, Jalu, Kufra, Jardas al-Abid, Tobruk, Derna, al-Qubba, al-Bayda, Marj, Shahat, Tokra, al-Abrak, Talmitha, Gulf of Sidra, Ajdabiya, and al-Awainat — municipalities where all electoral stages were completed except the voting phase before the process was interrupted.
The second phase of elections will begin on 20 October, covering 12 municipalities whose terms have expired and where no previous electoral stages were held. These include Sebha, Brak, Hun, al-Shweirf, Zuwaila, Wadi Atba, al-Qarda al-Shati, and al-Jadida.
In an official statement, the HNEC confirmed that its field administrations have already begun implementing logistical and organisational preparations, including equipping local offices and distributing resources in accordance with the scale of the electoral process in each municipality.
Meanwhile, HNEC Chairman Emad Al-Sayeh stated that the Commission has so far completed around 80 per cent of municipal elections nationwide. He called on the legislative authorities to move forward with discussions on the second level of local administration, particularly regarding the establishment of provincial governance structures.
The resumption of these elections is seen as a significant development for Libya’s political roadmap, aiming to enhance local governance and restore confidence in democratic institutions at the municipal level.