Libya to hold rare local vote in test for divided nation
Key eastern cities — including Benghazi, Sirte and Tobruk — have rejected the vote, highlighting the deep rifts between rival administrations.
The UN mission in Libya, UNSMIL, called the elections 'essential to uphold democratic governance' while warning that recent attacks on electoral offices and ongoing insecurity could undermine the process.
'Libyans need to vote and to have the freedom to choose without fear and without being pressured by anyone,' said Esraa Abdelmonem, a 36-year-old mother of three.
'These elections would allow people to have their say in their day-to-day affairs,' she said, adding that it was 'interesting to see' how the areas affected by the clashes in May would vote.
Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has remained split between Tripoli's UN-recognized government, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and its eastern rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
Khaled Al-Montasser, a Tripoli-based international relations professor, called the vote 'decisive,' framing it as a test for whether Libya's factions are ready to accept representatives chosen at the ballot box.
'The elections make it possible to judge whether the eastern and western authorities are truly ready to accept the idea that local representatives are appointed by the vote rather than imposed by intimidation or arms,' he said.
Nearly 380,000 Libyans, mostly from western municipalities, are expected to vote.
Elections had originally been planned in 63 municipalities nationwide — 41 in the west, 13 in the east, and nine in the south — but the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) suspended 11 constituencies in the east and south due to irregularities, administrative issues and pressure from local authorities.
In some areas near Tripoli, voting was also postponed due to problems distributing voter cards.
And on Tuesday, the electoral body said a group of armed men attacked its headquarters in Zliten, some 160 kilometers east of Tripoli.
No casualty figures were given, although UNSMIL said there were some injuries.
UNSMIL said the attack sought to 'intimidate voters, candidates and electoral staff, and to prevent them from exercising their political rights to participate in the elections and the democratic process.'
National elections scheduled for December 2021 were postponed indefinitely due to disputes between the two rival powers.
Following Qaddafi's death and 42 years of autocratic rule, Libya held its first free vote in 2012 to elect 200 parliament members at the General National Congress.
That was followed by the first municipal elections in 2013, and legislative elections in 2014 that saw a low turnout amid renewed violence.
In August that year, a coalition of militias seized Tripoli and installed a government with the backing of Misrata — then a politically influential city some 200 kilometers east of Tripoli — forcing the newly elected GNC parliament to relocate to the east.
The UN then brokered an agreement in December 2015 that saw the creation of the Government of National Accord, in Tripoli, with Fayez Al-Sarraj as its first premier, but divisions in the country have persisted still.
Other municipal elections did take place between 2019 and 2021, but only in a handful of cities.
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Arab News
7 hours ago
- Arab News
Libya to hold rare local vote in test for divided nation
TRIPOLI: Libya is set to hold rare municipal elections on Saturday, in a ballot seen as a test of democracy in a nation still plagued by division and instability. Key eastern cities — including Benghazi, Sirte and Tobruk — have rejected the vote, highlighting the deep rifts between rival administrations. The UN mission in Libya, UNSMIL, called the elections 'essential to uphold democratic governance' while warning that recent attacks on electoral offices and ongoing insecurity could undermine the process. 'Libyans need to vote and to have the freedom to choose without fear and without being pressured by anyone,' said Esraa Abdelmonem, a 36-year-old mother of three. 'These elections would allow people to have their say in their day-to-day affairs,' she said, adding that it was 'interesting to see' how the areas affected by the clashes in May would vote. Since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Qaddafi, Libya has remained split between Tripoli's UN-recognized government, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and its eastern rival administration backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. Khaled Al-Montasser, a Tripoli-based international relations professor, called the vote 'decisive,' framing it as a test for whether Libya's factions are ready to accept representatives chosen at the ballot box. 'The elections make it possible to judge whether the eastern and western authorities are truly ready to accept the idea that local representatives are appointed by the vote rather than imposed by intimidation or arms,' he said. Nearly 380,000 Libyans, mostly from western municipalities, are expected to vote. Elections had originally been planned in 63 municipalities nationwide — 41 in the west, 13 in the east, and nine in the south — but the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) suspended 11 constituencies in the east and south due to irregularities, administrative issues and pressure from local authorities. In some areas near Tripoli, voting was also postponed due to problems distributing voter cards. And on Tuesday, the electoral body said a group of armed men attacked its headquarters in Zliten, some 160 kilometers east of Tripoli. No casualty figures were given, although UNSMIL said there were some injuries. UNSMIL said the attack sought to 'intimidate voters, candidates and electoral staff, and to prevent them from exercising their political rights to participate in the elections and the democratic process.' National elections scheduled for December 2021 were postponed indefinitely due to disputes between the two rival powers. Following Qaddafi's death and 42 years of autocratic rule, Libya held its first free vote in 2012 to elect 200 parliament members at the General National Congress. That was followed by the first municipal elections in 2013, and legislative elections in 2014 that saw a low turnout amid renewed violence. In August that year, a coalition of militias seized Tripoli and installed a government with the backing of Misrata — then a politically influential city some 200 kilometers east of Tripoli — forcing the newly elected GNC parliament to relocate to the east. The UN then brokered an agreement in December 2015 that saw the creation of the Government of National Accord, in Tripoli, with Fayez Al-Sarraj as its first premier, but divisions in the country have persisted still. Other municipal elections did take place between 2019 and 2021, but only in a handful of cities.
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Arab News
India and Saudi Arabia: Shaping a shared future together
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Close to eight decades after Independence, India stands out as a shining example of what is possible through the collective action of 1.4 billion people. In the economic realm India is a leader in global trade, investments, and innovation, driven by a robust business environment, a dynamic demographic profile, and sustained economic reforms. As the world's fourth-largest economy with a GDP size larger than $4 trillion, we are on track to become the third-largest economy with a projected GDP of $7.3 trillion by 2030. India is also the world's fastest-growing major economy with real GDP growing at 6.5 percent on average. India remains a favored destination for global investments, with cumulative FDI inflows reaching $1.05 trillion as of 2024-25. Our strategic initiatives such as Production Linked Incentive schemes, revitalization of MSMEs, and the expansion of digital infrastructure have laid the foundation for a high-growth, high-opportunity economy. We have charted new paths, from space to the high seas, and set our goals on a developed India by 2047. This day is also a time to reflect on our close relationships with key partners. Saudi Arabia is one of India's most trusted and valued strategic partners. Our ties are rooted in a rich tapestry of civilizational, cultural, and commercial connections that date back centuries. Today, the India-Saudi partnership spans a wide array of domains, including defense, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, healthcare, education, culture, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges. However, the strength of our relationship goes far beyond individual sectors: It is anchored in mutual trust, goodwill, and a shared recognition that, in an increasingly uncertain world, our partnership stands as a pillar of stability and strength. The landmark state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Kingdom in April 2025 was a true reflection of this deepening bond. Prime Minister Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had highly productive engagements in Jeddah, resulting in key outcomes — including the agreement on the establishment of two India-Saudi joint venture refineries in India, and agreements in health, space cooperation, sports and postal cooperation. The two leaders co-chaired the second meeting of the India-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council, or SPC, during this visit. And in keeping with the deepening of the strategic partnership over the past few years, two new ministerial committees under the SPC, one on defense cooperation and another on tourism and cultural cooperation, were created. India stands out as shining example of what is possible through collective action Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan On the commercial side, our bilateral trade reached around $42 billion in 2024-25. India is now Saudi Arabia's second-largest trading partner, and the Kingdom ranks fifth for India. Indian companies are increasingly investing in Saudi Arabia. Many of them are involved in major infrastructure and energy projects under Vision 2030. Indian IT and tech firms are contributing to Saudi Arabia's digital transformation, while interest is also growing in areas like healthcare, logistics, mining, and startups. We have set up strong institutional frameworks, including a Ministerial Committee on Economy, Energy, Investment and Technology, and a high-level task force on investment. Our economic visions — the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and India's Viksit Bharat (Developed India) 2047 — complement each other, creating vast synergies for growth. Energy remains a key pillar of our partnership. Saudi Arabia is a major and reliable supplier of oil and gas, which continues to support India's development. We are also working with Saudi Arabia in areas such as solar, wind, and hydrogen. An agreement signed in 2023 covers electrical interconnection, hydrogen, and supply chains. We are exploring the idea of linking our power grids — a project that fits within the broader India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor announced in 2023. We recognize that stability, in the region and beyond, benefits our nations and the world. To this end, defense cooperation has grown steadily. The first joint army exercise, Sada Tanseeq, took place last year, along with two naval exercises — Al-Mohed Al-Hindi — in 2021 and 2023. There are regular exchanges of military leadership, training programs, and growing collaboration in defense industries. On the security front, we are working closely together to combat terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, and cyber threats. There is a natural connection in culture and people-to-people ties. Indian cinema and television content enjoy huge popularity in Saudi Arabia. There is increased cooperation in media and entertainment sectors, including in joint production. Yoga has become popular in the Kingdom, with strong support from the Saudi government. Academic exchanges have expanded. We have initiated joint research activities on historic archives. There is growing interest in the game of cricket among Saudis. More Indian players are participating in the Kingdom's esports tournaments. Two-way tourist numbers have increased consistently. We also welcome Saudi Arabia's decision to join the International Big Cat Alliance. The vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia is a living bridge connecting our two countries. We deeply appreciate the role of the Saudi leadership in taking care of the welfare of 2.7 million Indians living in the Kingdom. We also congratulate the Saudi leadership for successfully organizing the Hajj pilgrimage this year. India and Saudi Arabia are not only consolidating a dynamic partnership but also charting a bold vision for the future. Together, we are poised to play a pivotal role in shaping peace, progress, and prosperity; not just for our people, but for the entire world. On behalf of the government, people of India and the Indian diaspora in the Kingdom, I take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the sustained peace, progress, and prosperity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. • Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan is India's ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
At Least 26 Die in Migrant Shipwreck Off Italy's Lampedusa Island
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