Libya election deal backed by UN Security Council

The UN Security Council hailed an agreement by Libya's rival political groups that is intended to lead to national elections within two years.

The UN-backed deal was signed in Tripoli on August 30. Jerome Bonnafont, France's permanent representative to the United Nations and this month's Security Council president, called it an important step toward free, fair and transparent national elections and toward unifying Libya's institutions.

Bonnafont said the agreement needed support from all Libyan stakeholders and encouraged them to work toward carrying it out. He also said the Security Council voiced full support for Hanna Tetteh, the UN special representative for Libya.

Libya has struggled with division since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Two governments are competing for power: the UN-recognized administration in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and an eastern rival backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.

The UN roadmap, unveiled in August 2025, calls for electoral reforms, unified executive institutions and broader political dialogue.