Tripoli – The electoral process in the Hay Al-Andalus municipality of Tripoli has been marred by serious accusations of interference and manipulation, after voters were surprised this morning, Saturday, to find electoral lists struck from the official records inside polling stations, prompting urgent calls for intervention from the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) and the United Nations mission.
According to social media posts by activists and citizens, members of the “Public Security” militia struck the “Al-Islah” (Reform) list from the registers at several schools designated as polling centers, incorrectly informing voters that the list had been canceled. One post also mentioned that the “Abna Al-Andalus” (Sons of Al-Andalus) list was subjected to the same procedure without any official explanation.
The posts accused the militia—which they indicated is affiliated with Abdullah Al-Trabelsi (known as “Al-Farwala”), the brother of the Government of National Unity’s Interior Minister, Imad Al-Trabelsi—of attempting to clear the way for other affiliated lists to win through “fraud and manipulation,” chief among them the “Al-Safina” (The Ship) list. The authors of the posts noted that this was not the first such interference, as the same group had previously torn down campaign posters for the “Al-Islah” list in the area during the campaign period.
The incident has sparked condemnation and anger among the municipality’s residents, who expressed shock at such blatant interference in a democratic process. Some have warned that these practices could lead those affected to legally challenge the integrity and results of the municipal election in Hay Al-Andalus.
The authors of the posts made urgent appeals to the High National Elections Commission to act immediately and “put an end to this scandal.” They also called on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to intervene to stop what they described as a “farce” that reveals the dominance of militias and their attempts to impose their will even in democratic events.