NEW YORK — Despite significant political progress towards unifying Libya’s institutions and holding long-awaited elections, the country’s fragile economic and security situation demands urgent action, the senior United Nations official in Tripoli told the Security Council today, ahead of the Mission’s mandate renewal on 31 October.
“Since my last briefing, we have seen encouraging progress on the UNSMIL-facilitated political process,” said Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), welcoming a break in the prolonged political deadlock on 30 August in Tripoli, through an Agreement signed by the parties to the “Smaller Convening” — also known as the 4+4 committee — after four months of deliberation. Outlining the Agreement, which establishes a viable pathway for legislative and presidential elections under a unified executive authority within 24 months, she said it was welcomed by many actors, reflecting “a recognition among many Libyan actors that the prolonged institutional impasse must be addressed”.
However, citing the rejection of the Agreement by the High Council of State on 5 October, she stressed: “Libya cannot afford to allow spoilers to obstruct the process”, calling on the Council to “hold spoilers accountable”, and to urge all parties to move forward quickly given the country’s political, economic and security fragility and its regional impact. Her next briefing will provide an update on engagement to address this issue, she added.
Weak Dinar, Soaring Food Prices Fuel Public Unrest
“Institutional and political fragmentation have continued to impact negatively on the economic and security situation in the country”, she said, reporting that, while global oil prices should have generated a significant windfall for public revenues, Libyans are seeing their purchasing power eroded by rising food prices, a weaker dinar and inflation above 14 per cent, while access to essential public services remain unreliable. Meanwhile, rising living costs are fuelling popular discontent, with strikes and protests occurring throughout September, she continued, stressing that, amidst tensions, it is “increasingly urgent” to move to the full implementation of the Unified Development Programme to strengthen coordination over public expenditure and development investments across the country.
Between 30 and 50 per cent of fuel imports between January and September, worth between $2.4 and $4.4 billion, are estimated to be lost, resulting in windfall profits for those engaged in smuggling, while causing the State significant financial losses and fuel shortages, she went on. “This further constrains the State’s ability to meet its financial obligations to its citizens, including paying public-sector salaries”, she added. The disruptions to oil infrastructure in September resulted in 1 million barrels of lost production, she said, adding that attacks or undermining of infrastructure may constitute grounds for the imposition of measures under relevant Security Council resolutions.
Turning to human rights concerns, she drew attention to the execution in Benghazi in the last two months of 58 individuals convicted of prior crimes related to terrorism offences, calling for further executions to be suspended and urging the authorities to review procedures to ensure fair trials and due process. As well, she voiced alarm over the rise in misinformation and hate speech targeting refugees and migrants, including those with an irregular status, calling for public concerns to be addressed through reasonable policy and verifiable information.
Council Members Urge Swift Action on Elections, Unified Institutions
“Commitments on paper need to be translated into action,” urged the representative of the United Kingdom, penholder on the Libyan file, adding that “recent progress has created an opportunity to move Libya from political deadlock towards a brighter and more stable future”. On the Agreement, commitments to not reopen or relitigate settled issues must be honoured, she said, adding, this way, “we can protect the compromises made by both sides and move past the political stalemate that has risked instability and economic collapse”.
“Libyan leaders must turn the 30 August agreement into functioning institutions and credible elections”, chimed in Liberia’s representative, also speaking for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia. Urging all relevant institutions to resolve differences through UNSMIL’s facilitation, he pointed out that the 2.8 million registered voters recorded by UNSMIL in April “deserve a credible opportunity to participate”. On that, he called for immediate milestones to work towards elections within 24 months, adding: “A timetable must create urgency, never become permission for further delay.”
Military Reunification Needed to Address Security Situation
“Let’s be clear”, said the delegate of the United States, “this Council must hold persons obstructing or undermining progress towards elections to account, including by subjecting them to sanctions.” The status quo is unsustainable, she warned, pointing to drone strikes on energy infrastructure, protests and pipeline blockades. However, she pointed out that her country’s sustained hands-on diplomacy to support Libyan-led initiatives to overcome political divisions has “produced tangible results, including Libya’s first unified national budget in 13 years, and the joint Flintlock 2026 exercises bringing east and west Libyan forces together under AFRICOM leadership”.
France’s speaker, similarly, urged joint military exercises between “the forces of west and east” to build upon the current momentum, while calling for the urgent withdrawal of foreign mercenaries and forces. Only a military reunification of Libya’s army and security can allow Libya to fully recover, he added.
“A stable and sovereign Libya is essential not only for its people, but also for peace and security in our wider region”, said the representative of Greece, Council President for October, pointing out that the issues of migration and refugee movements “remain a major regional concern”. Therefore, she promised to keep engaging with Tripoli and other partners to combat trafficking, smuggling and illegal migration.
Libya Warns against Foreign Interference, Demands National Ownership
Libya’s representative, cautioning against parallel tracks lacking national consensus, emphasized the need to address divisions on outstanding issues, pointing to the High Council of State’s rejection of the Agreement’s methodology. “How will you address these divergences to ensure the participation by all parties, ensuring the success of the 4+4 [committee’s] achievements?” he asked, emphasizing that UNSMIL must remain an impartial mediator.
The lack of a political solution is putting his country’s infrastructure under threat, he went on, condemning “despicable” attacks on oil and energy infrastructure. Perpetrators will be held accountable, he said, stressing: “Oil is not a bargaining chip; it is not for any party or group to own. It is national wealth, owned by all Libyans.” Warning of international interference, he stressed: “We require support — not substitution — of Libyan institutions, and not interference in internal affairs.”
