Daghim: Referendum body to continue work despite court ruling

Libya’s referendum commission will continue to operate despite a court ruling suspending it, a senior presidential adviser has said.

Ziyad Daghim, who advises the head of the Presidential Council on electoral matters, said the body would only halt its work following a final ruling from the Supreme Court.

His comments come after the Benghazi Court of Appeal moved to suspend the commission on Sunday.

The court backed an appeal from Libya’s parallel government, which claimed the Presidential Council had overstepped its authority in establishing the body.

Mr Daghim defended the council’s position, saying its decisions were “sovereign acts” that could only be challenged through constitutional courts rather than administrative ones.

“We will wait for the official notification and review the court’s reasoning,” he told Fawasel media platform.

He stressed that the commission would continue its outreach to all Libyan citizens aged 18 and above while the legal process unfolds.

Why it matters?

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Libya’s competing power centres. The Presidential Council, based in Tripoli, faces regular challenges to its authority from the parallel administration in the east of the country.

The referendum commission was established as part of efforts to break the country’s political deadlock through public consultation.

Mr Daghim insisted this remains the only way forward, saying: “The solution is to return to the people to settle disputes.”

He expressed particular confidence in Libya’s youth and “civilised elite” to help citizens understand the commission’s importance in determining the country’s future.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​