This page is intended to answer the most frequently asked questions about the political process.

 

1) Why was the roadmap developed this way?

The Mission developed the roadmap based on the recommendations of an Advisory Committee made up of Libyan political, legal and constitutional experts. We then presented those recommendations to the Libyan public directly for discussion. Using a mix of in-person and online meetings, an online poll, and a telephone poll, the Mission collected feedback from more than 26,500 people, including community and tribal leaders, security actors, political parties, unionists, youth, women, cultural components and persons with disabilities. We have consulted with Libyans with a wide range of expertise and experience, ranging from home workers to university professors, across the country.

As in every vibrant society, opinions on the best way forward were diverse. The largest proportion of people, however, indicated they want both presidential and legislative elections at the same time, as soon as possible, which was the Advisory Committee’s first option stressing the delinking of electoral outcomes.

The second most popular option was Advisory Committee Option 4. This option proposed dissolving existing institutions and forming a new dialogue forum that would appoint an executive and select a 60-member constituent assembly to adopt a temporary constitution and electoral laws for national elections.

Feedback also indicated Libyans’ top priorities: unifying state institutions, eliminating political division, and avoiding extended transitional periods.

This roadmap aims to satisfy the people’s demands — accounting for political and security realities and the need for compromise — by facilitating near-simultaneous elections. At the same time, recognizing the considerable support among Libyans for Option 4, this roadmap also establishes a Structured Dialogue to bring more Libyans into the conversation and provide a mechanism for accountability.

 

2) How is this roadmap different from previous UNSMIL-facilitated roadmaps that have failed?

Learning from the successes and failures of past processes, the Mission is taking the following measures to help facilitate a successful political process:

First, this roadmap integrates a wider range of Libyan voices into the political process than previous processes, seeking to prevent its monopolisation by status quo actors. This will be done through continuous engagement with the public, and the formation of an inclusive Structured Dialogue, which will act as an accountability mechanism for Libyan leaders.

Second, UNSMIL, mindful of past failures where temporary governments stalled without elections, has designed the roadmap as a package, where actors must follow a sequential timeline and cannot select which parts to implement. The roadmap also includes

safeguards to prevent attempts to delay elections. One example of this is requiring a revised electoral framework prior to forming a unified government. UNSMIL is now prioritizing consensus on electoral rules and restructuring the High National Elections Commission, while also supporting institutional unity, economic recovery, and stronger governance.

Third, the roadmap is accompanied by an international coordination mechanism to generate external pressure. The Mission in June supported the reinvigoration of the Berlin Process, an initiative launched in 2019/2020 to unite foreign powers behind the ceasefire agreement and an UNSMIL-facilitated political agreement. The Berlin Process will provide a platform for regional and global partners, with different perspectives and interests, to support UN efforts to bring Libyan parties together to resolve short-term and long-term governance challenge.

Fourth, the Mission will brief the Security Council every two months on progress and will not hesitate to name the spoilers and demand they be held accountable.

 

3) What is the timeframe for the implementation of this roadmap?

The Mission is not setting a detailed timetable with dates but believes, with political will and support from the Libyan people, that this roadmap can be implemented over a period of 12 to 18 months. The roadmap will be implemented as a package, with a focus on sequential milestones—where each step facilitates the successful implementation of the next step towards the organisation of national elections.

 

4) The 6+6 Committee, formed by the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, has already developed an electoral framework? Why is it necessary to establish a new one before moving forward?

The laws produced by the 6+6 Committee are an important milestone, but they contain loopholes that could potentially negate the choice of the voting public. Notably, legislative elections are tied to the success of presidential elections. Similarly, if it is not possible to hold presidential elections for any reason, all procedures related to the legislative elections also shall be considered nullified—even if polling has already occurred.

If presidential and legislative elections are held and the outcome of the presidential elections is challenged, the validity of the legislative elections will also be affected. This linkage is legally unnecessary and does not respect the choices of voters. The Advisory Committee emphasized that amending the framework to address contentious issues, including delinking presidential and legislative elections, would be essential to the success of elections. More than 80 percent of respondents to the Mission’s poll agreed with this recommendation.

 

5) What is UNSMIL’s plan to support consensus on a constitutional basis before setting an election date?

There are various milestones that will need to be met before elections, including the adoption of a politically viable and technically implementable constitutional and electoral framework. It is the Mission’s plan to transparently communicate with and engage the Libyan public on these milestones so they can also hold the stakeholders accountable. The roadmap proposes holding the elections within 12 to 18 months.

 

6) How will UNSMIL facilitate the formation of a unified government to oversee elections?

The majority of Libyans agree, according to the Mission’s polling and consultations, that uniting the government prior to elections is essential, noting that today’s divisions affect daily life. The current electoral law also makes this requirement clear.

UNSMIL is ready to help Libyan leaders reach a fair and inclusive agreement on creating one government that serves all Libyans and is guided by international principles of good governance.

At the same time, UNSMIL has learned from past experiences where temporary governments were formed without subsequently conducting elections. This time, the Mission is emphasizing an agreement on the rules for elections as the first step forward, while also supporting efforts to unify institutions, improve the economy, and strengthen governance.

Ultimately, forming a single government will require the commitment and support of

Libya’s key political actors so that it can govern effectively across the whole country.

 

7) What are the chances of success for the political process in Libya, given the lack of consensus among Libyans?

The success of the political process will depend on many factors, including first and foremost the political will of Libyan stakeholders to put national interest first, as well as united regional and international support to the UNSMIL-facilitated political process. The goal through the UNSMIL-facilitated political process is to bring the different positions closer together to find a consensual way to get the country out of the endless transitional cycle.

UNSMIL believes the Libyan people — and also regional and international actors — stand to gain more from a stable, unified and prosperous Libya.

 

8) What guarantees can UNSMIL offer to ensure the commitment of Libyan parties to implement the outcomes of the roadmap, including ending transitional periods?

There are several concrete mechanisms to prevent spoilers, including sanctions.

While sanctions are the exclusive prerogative of the Security Council and Member States, UNSMIL is working closely with international partners to ensure that Libyan stakeholders are held accountable for their actions. UNSMIL briefs the Security Council every two months, and the Mission intends to use these occasions to transparently convey progress as well as challenges, including reporting on any spoilers and, where necessary, seek the intervention of the Council.

Within the roadmap itself, the structured dialogue, by facilitating wider Libyan representation in the political process, will act as a safeguard to hold leaders accountable and ensure the process delivers on their enduring aspiration for peace, stability, and prosperity.

In addition to the Security Council, UNSMIL, together with the Federal Republic of Germany, recently reactivated the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee on Libya after a four-year hiatus to coordinate the actions of the international community and leverage their influence in support of the UNSMIL-facilitated political process in Libya.

 

9) What will the Structured Dialogue look like? What will be its task?

Libya’s past experience shows that peace cannot last if the deep causes of conflict are ignored. Libyans have yet to agree on some of the most important questions — like the structure of the state or how the state relates to its citizens. Without tackling these issues, the country cannot move forward to a stable and democratic system.

The Structured Dialogue will be designed to give Libyans a platform to build consensus on long-term problems and create a shared national vision for the future. The Structured Dialogue will also create a platform to discuss policy proposals on key interventions that would support the holding of elections and a peaceful transition, which could inform substantive policy and legislative interventions by the unified government. By bringing together people from across society — including youth, women and persons with disabilities — the dialogue will make the political process more inclusive and legitimate, while also informing governance reform that can help create a settlement that moves beyond the current deadlock on a number of key issues.

The dialogue will focus on four themes: economy, security, governance, and national reconciliation.

The Structured Dialogue will not only give Libyans a voice in shaping their future but also support the creation of accountable state institutions and a more sustainable political settlement.

 

10) How will participants be selected for the Structured Dialogue? What measures will be put in place to prevent corruption?

The Mission will have clear selection criteria that will be shared publicly. To give Libyans from different backgrounds a voice in shaping the country’s future, while making sure the process has credibility and broad public support, UNSMIL will ensure regional balance and the broad representation of Libyan society, including women, youth, cultural groups, civil society, and institutions.

UNSMIL envisions strong partnerships with institutionalized societal actors, such as political parties, newly elected municipal councils, syndicates and other formal groups of interest in Libya.

 

11) What concrete deliverables will the Structured Dialogue have? Is it another advisory body or will it have power to institute change?

The Structured Dialogue aims to deliver a shared vision for Libya’s future that reflects the voices of its people, and recommendations on key actions required to facilitate credible elections and a peaceful transition to an elected government with a mandate from the people.

The recommendations will be published openly and presented to Libya’s institutions and policymakers for consideration and timely adoption. It will also support future efforts to complete the constitution.

 

12) What measures will be taken to guarantee transparent and fair elections? What happens if one of the parties rejects the results?

UNSMIL works closely with the High National Elections Commission to ensure technical and operational readiness to hold transparent and credible elections. There are legal procedures in place to contest election results. Elections are not a one-off event but, once instituted, will be a process that takes place periodically. UNSMIL will work to support the strengthening of HNEC to build confidence in the institution and its ability to organise elections across the country.

 

13) How will the UN deal with the presence of militias and armed groups that could impede elections? Will the new government be protected from their influence?

The protection of the new government from the influence of armed groups is a central objective of the roadmap. It is not an afterthought — but a goal embedded in the plan's design.

Specifically, the Structured Dialogue, as an ongoing process, will seek to address the issues that have created and entrenched the operations of armed groups, such as divided security institutions and insufficient oversight and coordination mechanisms. It will also aim to address the lack of alternative economic opportunities for young men —among other things. The goal is to build a national vision and find solutions through dialogue, which would theoretically weaken the influence of those who operate outside of a political consensus.

At the same time, UNSMIL will continue engaging directly with key armed groups, security institutions, and political leaders to discourage the use of or threat of force to influence the political process. Efforts will focus on security arrangements that ensure a safe environment for elections, backed by coordination with state institutions and international partners to safeguard the new government from undue influence.

 

14) Why doesn’t the Mission just replace the current actors using its Chapter VII powers?

UNSMIL does not have the power to impose or remove governments. UNSMIL’s role is to support Libyans to overcome the current political impasse and deliver inclusive national elections which can restore institutional legitimacy and unify state institutions.

There is a misunderstanding about the Chapter VII mandate in Libya.

UNSMIL derives its mandate from Security Council resolution 2755 (2024). It is a Chapter VI mandate, which focuses on the peaceful settlement of disputes. This is why UNSMIL uses its good offices and mediation capacity to facilitate a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process to get the country out of the political crisis and towards elections.

Libya falls under Chapter VII only in a few areas: the arms embargo and financial measures, including the freezing of sovereign wealth assets and targeted travel and financial sanctions. The political process itself is not governed by Chapter VII. Security Council Resolution 2769 (2025), which imposes sanctions on Libya, falls under a Chapter VII mandate. This is managed by the Sanctions Committee, composed of members of the Security Council, and includes arms embargo, asset freeze, and measures concerning illicit oil exports.

 

15) How will UNSMIL ensure the inclusion of youth in the political process?

In May 2024, UNSMIL launched a new youth engagement strategy to transform how the Mission engages with young men and women. Since then, it has met with more than 1,200 youth, collated their recommendations and is producing a youth report on what young people want Libya’s future.

Youth voices are crucial to sustainable peacebuilding. As such, UNSMIL has also developed a dedicated youth consultation track for the political process that has held more than 15 sessions already. UNSMIL continues to advocate strongly for the meaningful inclusion of young leaders in the institutions and government.

Youth should also be using their voices at a local level to advocate for the changes they wish to see.

 

16) What support will the UN Mission provide to ensure women are included in decision-making during the political process?

The political participation of women is an important priority for UNSMIL. Regarding the political process, there is a dedicated track for engaging women in the process, and we will continue to ensure their inclusion throughout.

In relation to elections, the Mission will continue to engage with women’s groups and other civil society organisations to increase women’s political participation — both as voters and as candidates. UNSMIL also provides technical support to the women’s unit at the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) in collaboration with UN Women and UNDP.

 

17) How will UNSMIL ensure the meaningful and effective participation of all cultural components in Libya in the political process and elections?

UNSMIL’s mandate is to further an inclusive political process that can lead to inclusive national elections. Following the conclusion of the work of the Advisory Committee (which included representation from cultural and linguistic components), UNSMIL has been conducting public consultations and outreach across Libya to ensure all societal components have their voices heard.

 

18) What is the role of holders of administrative numbers in the political process and the upcoming elections?

The status of the administrative-number holders needs to be decided by the Libyan authorities. The Advisory Committee recommended that registration and candidacy for the elections be limited to holders of a national ID number to preserve the integrity of the electoral process. However, the Committee also acknowledged the urgent need to address this issue and recommended that the new government be tasked with addressing the legal settlement on the status of the administrative-number holders, away from any electoral or political interference.