Rival Libyan Factions Formally Sign UN-Backed Election Deal in Tripoli

Representatives of Libya's rival institutions formally signed the '4+4' committee's election agreement at UNSMIL headquarters in Tripoli on Sunday, ten days after initialling a draft in Tunis. Signatories included four House of Representatives members, four High State Council members, Shibani AbuHamoud (head of Khalifa Haftar's general delegation), and GNU state minister Walid Ellafi, who said elections would be held 'within a period not exceeding 24 months' under a single executive authority overseeing amended electoral laws and a reconstituted High National Elections Commission. AbuHamoud said the parties would work with UNSMIL on an implementation framework 'within one month of the signing.' UNSMIL chief Hanna Tetteh called it 'an important step towards overcoming the political and institutional impasse,' while cautioning it must still be translated into 'tangible actions' via national-level adoption. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Saddam Haftar, and GNS premier Osama Hamad all welcomed the signing; Khalifa Haftar said it showed 'commitment to working toward the unification of the Libyan state.' The agreement stipulates that if the House of Representatives and High State Council do not approve it within a month, it will be adopted nationally as a constitutional document with UN Security Council backing. Some skepticism persisted: HoR member Khalifa al-Daghari told Al Jazeera eastern lawmakers were not consulted on the negotiating team's composition, echoing the legitimacy concerns Presidential Council head Mohamed al-Menfi and HSC member Nuh al-Malati raised over the Tunis draft.