Summary:

On 14 December 2025, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) launched the “Structured Dialogue” in Tripoli in a renewed effort to progress toward political unity in Libya.  

The initiative represents one of three pillars of the August 2025 roadmap, alongside developing an electoral framework and unifying state institutions. 

Selected from over 1,000 applicants, 124 participants, including youth, persons with disabilities, and an enforced 35% female quota, engaged in four tracks: Governance, Economy, Security, and National Reconciliation/Human Rights. UNSMIL emphasized that participants do not constitute a decision-making body but will produce non-binding recommendations. 

Reactions to the initiative were mixed, with the international community supporting the initiative. However, domestic voices in Libya argued the selection lacked transparency, bypassed legislative bodies, and that “non-binding” talks merely perpetuate the existing crisis. 

Outlook: 

The new UNSMIL-led Dialogue aims to bypass the political deadlock by empowering civil society and independent actors. However, with the Dialogue failing to incorporate any key eastern or western power brokers, the effort is unlikely to have significant impact on a political unification process and risks undermining the potential impact of future UN-led efforts in Libya. 

Criticism from Libya’s political elites suggests the likely ineffectiveness of the Dialogue. Furthermore, allegations that participants include individuals with violent histories could undermine the track’s authority. 

Over the next six months, success depends on UNSMIL leveraging international pressure to enforce recommendations. Without clear enforcement mechanisms or consensus on a unified executive, the Dialogue risks becoming a procedural delay rather than a breakthrough. 

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