Libyan political dialogue to convene in Tunis under UN auspices
Tunisia will host the eighth meeting of the "4+4" restricted format on Thursday, August 20, 2026, to address the political deadlock in Libya. Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya UNSMIL, announced this on Tuesday, August 18, during a briefing to the Security Council. The "4+4" format, established by UNSMIL, brings together eight Libyan representatives, four from the eastern part of the country and four from the west, to bridge the positions of the House of Representatives, based in eastern Libya, and the High Council of State, established in the west. This new meeting occurs amidst deep institutional divisions and the absence of a lasting settlement among Libya's various power components. Tetteh also highlighted the deteriorating public services in Libya, including repeated power outages, noting that persistent institutional division weakens national infrastructure and exacerbates difficulties for the population. She warned that "national infrastructure is becoming increasingly fragile due to pressures that cannot be ignored." The meeting in Tunis reaffirms the city's role as a platform for consultation in international efforts to resolve Libya's political stalemate. This dialogue mechanism is a key framework used by the UN to reconcile the positions of eastern and western Libyan institutions, as political and institutional differences continue to hinder national elections.