(LANA - Municipal Elections): Hours before the start - local and international anticipation of the municipal council elections

Follow-up: Local Affairs Editor.

Benghazi, August 16, 2025 (LANA) – Voting for the second group of municipal council elections will begin in approximately 52 municipalities in Libya at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, amid tight security measures and arrangements.

The second phase of elections was scheduled to be held in 63 municipalities, including 41 in the western region, 13 in the eastern region, and nine in the southern region, according to a previous decision issued by the Commission. However, on July 20, the Commission announced the suspension of the electoral process in 11 municipalities in the second group of municipal councils due to the impossibility of holding the elections there. This limited the holding of the elections to approximately 52 municipalities.

Amidst the local and international anticipation of the electoral process, and amid logistical and security arrangements, several centers and offices of the Electoral Commission were subjected to multiple attacks, including the Commission's office in the city of Zliten, east of Tripoli, which was attacked by unknown gunmen who fired a rocket, causing material damage to the headquarters building.

The commission's offices in Zawiya and the western coast east of Tripoli were also subjected to attacks, resulting in the burning of parts of them. This included the burning of the commission's main warehouse in Zawiya, which contained materials related to the voting process.

Commenting on these attacks, the National Elections Commission described the attacks on its offices in Zliten and Zawiya as "barbaric acts," blatant assaults on the electoral process, and an attempt to deprive Libyan citizens of exercising their legitimate rights.

The commission reiterated its determination to proceed with the elections, preserving and respecting the rights of voters and citizens. It emphasized that these attacks will not deter it from fulfilling its national duty to organize free and fair elections in accordance with the highest international standards.

Separately, several offices affiliated with the High National Elections Commission in various Libyan municipalities announced their full readiness to launch the municipal council elections today, Saturday, with support and assistance from the security directorates within their jurisdiction.

For its part, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on the offices of the National Elections Commission (NEC) in the cities of Zliten, Zawiya, and the western coast, describing them as criminal acts aimed at depriving Libyans of exercising their legitimate political rights to choose their local leaders.

The Mission reiterated its full and unwavering support for the High National Elections Commission in the performance of its duties and called on security officials to provide the vital support necessary to enable the Libyan people to exercise their political rights without fear or intimidation.

The Mission called for a comprehensive investigation to identify those responsible for these criminal acts that targeted the Commission's offices in several Libyan cities and to hold them accountable.

...(LANA)...