TRIPOLI – The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomes the announcement by the High National Election Commission (HNEC) regarding the upcoming municipal council elections in 58 municipalities across the country set for 16 November. This election represents an important step towards strengthening local governance and democratic practice in Libya. 

UNSMIL commends HNEC’s effort to reach this important milestone and urges all Libyan authorities, political leaders, and security actors to foster a safe, transparent and inclusive environment for the election. It is crucial to ensure that registered citizens, particularly women, can freely vote and choose their local representatives and that local observers can monitor the process impartially. 

UNSMIL further encourages all candidates to engage in their electoral campaigns with integrity, adhering to the principles of fair electoral competition as established by the regulations and code of conduct developed by HNEC. The Mission also calls upon candidates, media representatives, and social media users to refrain from incitement and hate speech, and instead leverage the municipal elections as an opportunity to contribute positively to building Libya's democratic governance. 

UNSMIL reaffirms its commitment to supporting the aspirations of the Libyan people and all efforts aimed at successfully conducting the electoral process.