After 14 years of chaos, two governments, and zero national votes – could Libya finally be about to go to the polls?

In a rare moment of optimism for North Africa, the UN Security Council has just thrown its full weight behind a new political deal that could finally put Libya back on the path to democracy.

And frankly, it's about time, writes cbinews.tv.

So, what actually happened?

Libya's bitterly divided rival factions have signed a UN-backed roadmap agreement to hold national elections within two years.

The deal was quietly signed in Tripoli on August 30th, but it was on Tuesday [9th September] that the UN Security Council in New York formally hailed it as a breakthrough.

Signed in Tripoli, blessed in New York, but with consequences for the entire 7-million-strong nation.

On one side, you have the UN-recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah. On the other, the eastern-based administration backed by powerful military commander Khalifa Haftar. For years they've refused to even be in the same room.

This time, they agreed.

Presenting the Council's statement, France's UN Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont – who holds the Security Council presidency this month – called it "an important step towards delivering free, fair, transparent national elections, as well as advancing the unification of Libya's institutions to fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people."

He also stressed that "this agreement being supported by all Libyan stakeholders" is crucial and urged everyone to get on with implementing it. The Council also gave its "full support" to Hanna Tetteh, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, who has been doing the heavy diplomatic lifting.

This is the most significant political movement since the last failed attempt at elections in December 2021.

A bit of background – why has this taken so long?

If you're wondering why a country hasn't held a proper national election in over a decade, here's the explainer.

Libya is oil-rich – it sits on Africa's largest proven oil reserves, around 48 billion barrels, and before 2011 was pumping 1.6 million barrels a day. That wealth should have made it the Dubai of North Africa.

Instead, everything unravelled in 2011. The NATO-backed uprising that toppled long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi after 42 years in power left a massive power vacuum. Since then, it's been a textbook case of state collapse.

What followed? A civil war, the rise of militias, foreign interference from everyone from Turkey to Russia to Egypt, and since 2014, two competing governments claiming legitimacy. The UN has tried to stitch it back together multiple times. A landmark ceasefire in October 2020 raised hopes, but elections scheduled for December 24th, 2021 were cancelled at the last minute over disputes about who could stand and the rules of the vote. Libyans were left gutted.

Since then, the country has been stuck in limbo. The UN estimates that political instability has cost Libya over $100 billion in lost oil revenues and reconstruction costs, while ordinary Libyans face cash shortages, blackouts, and a deeply divided central bank.

Why this matters:

This isn't just about politicians in suits in Tripoli and Benghazi.

Talk to any young Libyan – and 60% of the population is under 30 – and they'll tell you they've never actually voted in a meaningful national election. The last truly nationwide parliamentary vote was in 2014, which then collapsed.

For families in Tripoli, Benghazi and Sabha, unification means one central bank, one exchange rate, one passport queue, and hopefully, an end to militia rule. For the 2.8 million Libyans registered to vote, it means a chance to finally have a say.

That's why the UN's roadmap, first unveiled back in August 2025, matters. According to **cbinews.tv** analysis, it focuses on three big things:

1. Fixing the electoral framework – agreeing once and for all on who can run and how votes are counted.

2. Unifying institutions – merging the two rival governments, two central bank branches, and the National Oil Corporation.

3. Broader dialogue – bringing in women, youth, and civil society, not just the armed men at the top.

What happens next?

Let's not get carried away. Libya has seen deals signed and broken before.

The next steps, as laid out by the UN, are tricky:

- In the next 60 days: A technical committee must draft new electoral laws.

- Within 6 months: Unify the executive – meaning Dbeibah and the eastern government have to agree on a single interim government.

- Within 24 months: Hold simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections.

The big test? Will Haftar, whose Libyan National Army controls most of the oil fields, actually accept a result that doesn't put him in power? And will all the foreign backers step aside?

For now, the Security Council is united, which is rare. That unity gives Hanna Tetteh real leverage.

As cbinews.tv will continue to track, this Tripoli agreement isn't peace – but it is the first credible timetable for peace in four years. For Libyans who have waited since 2011, that two-year countdown can't start soon enough.

Source: cbinews.tv

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