Libya’s High National Election Commission successfully held polls in seven municipalities in the country’s northwest on Saturday. The vote was held after a week-long delay due to security concerns following a recent attack on the commission’s facilities. The polls took place in the municipalities of Zawiya Markaz, Zawiya Wassat, Zawya Gharb, Zawya Chamal, Sabrata, Sormane, and Bir Ghnam.
The first phase of the vital municipal elections was held for 58 municipalities back in November of last year. The UN Support Mission in Libya welcomed the peaceful vote and the public’s participation in selecting their local representatives.
The UN urged all parties to peacefully accept the outcome of the voting and to use judicial mechanisms in case of any objections. It also called on all registered voters to actively participate in the selection of their representatives in future elections.
The mission also called on the appointed government to remove obstructions and urgently allow the continuation of the elections. The holding of these elections enables the building of trust and accountability between the citizens and their local leaders.
Libya remains divided between two rival administrations, one led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, which controls the west of the country. The other rival government, based in Benghazi, is led by Osama Hammad and governs the east and much of the south.