Decision No. 46 of 2023 on Municipal Councils Targeted for Local Elections

The High National Elections Commission has scheduled municipal council elections for 60 municipalities across Libya's eastern, southern, and western regions for January 20, 2024. All targeted municipalities currently operate under caretaker councils, with several newly established municipalities included in the electoral process. The Commission must submit executive implementation plans by September 28, 2023.

This decision signals a potential normalization of local governance structures, which could improve regulatory predictability and business operating environments at the municipal level. For foreign investors, successfully elected councils may offer more stable interlocutors for permits, land use, and local compliance matters compared to caretaker administrations. However, the transition period through early 2024 may create temporary administrative uncertainty in these 60 jurisdictions. Companies with operations or planned investments in these municipalities should monitor implementation closely and prepare for potential changes in local counterparts.