Libya: Signing of the Mini-Meeting Agreement (4+4 Committee) to Resolve the Political Crisis

Tunis, Aug 30 (KUNA) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Sunday that members of the Mini-Dialogue Committee (the 4+4 Committee) signed an agreement through two key steps aimed at resolving the UN-backed political crisis in Libya.

In a statement, the mission said the signing ceremony took place in the capital, Tripoli, in the presence of Musa Al-Kouni, a member of the Presidential Council, as well as members of the House of Representatives and the State Council, UNSMIL Head Hanna Tetteh, and representatives of accredited diplomatic missions.

The mission added that the agreement’s provisions included approval to implement the political roadmap by reconstituting the High National Election Commission (HNEC) and amending the necessary legal and constitutional frameworks to hold legislative and presidential elections.

It confirmed the committee’s selection of Zou El-Hamali as Chairman of the Commission and Sanaa Al-Lishani as Vice-Chairman, along with other members.

The mission noted that the agreement adopted Law No. 28 of 2023 as the basis for presidential elections, with amendments allowing dual citizens to run, and guaranteeing that the winning candidate renounce non-Libyan citizenship before taking the constitutional oath. It also proposed a legal remedy to restart the electoral process if the winner fails to meet this condition.

The amendments also allow military personnel to participate in presidential elections as candidates and voters, and abolish the mandatory second round if a candidate wins an absolute majority (50 percent plus one). The number of endorsements for a presidential candidate must be no less than 20,000 from registered voters. Furthermore, the agreement decouples the results of presidential and legislative elections.

Regarding legislative elections, the committee adopted Law No. 10 of 2014 as the framework and basis for implementation, granting the newly elected parliament the authority to address permanent constitutional issues, including its adoption.

The agreement also includes amendments to the Political Parties Law, allowing participation in legislative and presidential elections through individual candidates in all electoral districts. The sessions of the elected House of Representatives and the executive authority will be held periodically according to a fixed schedule among the cities of Tripoli, Benghazi, and Sabha.

The agreement stipulates that simultaneous elections will be held within a period not exceeding 24 months under a single executive authority and unified national institutions. If this proves unfeasible, the two parties will work with UNSMIL to find the optimal mechanism to achieve the electoral milestone.

The agreement also provides for its national adoption through a broadly representative national mechanism sufficient to give it constitutional status, and international adoption by the UN Security Council, ensuring all parties’ commitment to its provisions. This applies if the House of Representatives and the State Council fail to approve it in its signed form within one month of its signing.

According to the agreement, committee members, in cooperation with the mission, will establish a framework within one month of signing to monitor all matters related to its implementation. The provisions and conditions specified in this agreement will supersede any conflicting provisions in the constitutional and legal framework for elections.

The Tripoli government and the General Command of the Armed Forces in Benghazi selected committee members, with two representatives from each, plus two from the House of Representatives and two from the State Council. UNSMIL facilitated the committee’s meetings since April last year.

For her part, UN Special Representative Hanna Tetteh emphasized in her speech at the signing ceremony, according to the statement, the necessity of holding elections to strengthen the culture of conducting them in an internationally recognized manner, ensure that responsible institutions are accountable to the Libyan people, and enhance their capacity to confront economic and political challenges.

Tetteh added that holding elections is part of efforts to strengthen institutions, reaffirming continued work to push for peaceful elections.

The Special Representative highlighted support for Libyan efforts to achieve decisive institutions in governance, health, economy, and other sectors, calling for maintaining the momentum represented by the signing of the agreement and working together to implement the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2542, contributing to advancing to new stages and creating the necessary conditions for holding elections. (End) Sh.B.M. / F.S.