12 June 2024: HNEC opens voter registration for elections in 60 municipal councils

This week we look at voter registration for municipal elections, rising militia tensions in Misrata, and NOC efforts to paint a positive picture of oil production amid increasing politicisation.

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HNEC opens voter registration for elections in 60 municipal councils, with elections to be held by end of August 2024

Incident: On 9 June, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) held a press conference in Tripoli to launch the start of the municipal council elections for ‘Cluster One’ consisting of 60 municipal councils from across the country, out of 106 total councils targeted for elections this year. HNEC head Emad Sayeh and UN Deputy Envoy and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya Georgette Gagnon spoke at the event, in the presence of various Government of National Unity (GNU) ministers, international diplomats and media officials.

The voter registration phase will last for 15 days until 23 June. HNEC stressed that registration is a completely new process and is based on residence in the municipalities being targeted in Cluster One. HNEC will then start the next phase – the distribution of voter cars to new voters, noting voter cards from 2021 are valid. HNEC said that elections for Cluster Two will commence immediately after the final results of the Cluster One elections are announced – which is expected to be in the second half of August 2024. 

UNSMIL welcomed the opening of the voter registration process and encouraged all eligible Libyans to register, stressing that ‘electing municipal representatives is crucial not only for citizens’ day-to-day lives but also for the overall development and stability of the country.’ It appealed to all relevant institutions to facilitate the process of the implementation of the municipal council elections.

Comment: HNEC has opened a phone line to answer questions about the registration process. Eligibility for voter registration includes: Being a Libyan and having a national number; Being aged 18 and over; Phone number must be linked to national number; and being resident in one of the Cluster One municipalities. HNEC stressed that ‘Everyone who is registered in the municipal council elections is automatically registered in the general elections. Everyone who was previously registered in general elections is no longer registered in municipal council elections.’

HNEC had planned to hold municipal council elections at the start of 2024, but the process has mainly been held up due to lack of funding from the GNU.

Significance: The launch of the municipal elections is a symbolic event. However, at this point, it is unclear how much uptake there will be for voter registration in the municipal elections. While HNEC has issued various resources to support the process, it is not that straightforward and this (plus wider disenfranchisement with the political landscape) could limit how many people register to vote. Further complications, resistance and division are likely to emerge in the coming weeks around candidate eligibility, municipal boundaries, funding, and the provision of security.

While many of the national status quo actors do not want to see any of their municipal allies removed, they will also not want to be seen blatantly disrupting the electoral process. As such, they will likely try to influence, intimidate, undermine and politicise the process – and potentially the HNEC – covertly. As such, it seems likely that the election timeline for Cluster One will become drawn out past August, and/or may see elections in certain constituencies postponed. 

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Tensions rise in Misrata as Volcano of Rage veterans protest at PM’s Office and clashes break out between the Misrata Joint Force and others over an arrest

Incident: On 5 June, PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba and Libyan Army Chief of Staff (CoS) Muhammed al-Haddad negotiated with representatives of Operation Volcano of Rage veterans, who had been wounded during fighting, about their financial compensation. After the talks were broken off without result, around 250 war-wounded and their relatives demonstrated in front of the PM’s Office in Tripoli, demanding their promised - in their view - payments. Some protestors demanded the ouster of Dabaiba.

NOC renews efforts to attract foreign investors, claiming production has reached 1.5 million bpd and reiterating environmental focus

Incident: This week, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) has continued to promote its efforts to increase oil production and expand international partnerships. On 9 June, the NOC published its latest statement on production. Crude oil production reached 1,250,775 bpd, while condensates production reached 52,841 bpd; the NOC included 211,775 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) of natural gas (or 7,504,650,000 cf) in the final count, ensuring that Libya’s overall production reached the equivalent of 1.515 million bpd.

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From our Blog..

On 7 June, AFP published a report titled ‘Deadly landmines pose hidden threat in Libyan capital’. The report looks at the hundreds of deadly landmines and unexploded ordnance that remain...read more

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Tensions rise in Misrata as Volcano of Rage veterans protest at PM’s Office and clashes break out between the Misrata Joint Force and others over an arrest