As Libya faces a political impasse delaying long-planned elections alongside clashes and drone strikes that left a major oil refinery ablaze, the Security Council heard the latest updates from Special Representative of the Secretary-General Hanna Tetteh.
Libya has made progress in advancing its political road map, SRSG told the Security Council today, including work to guarantee elections and unify institutions. However, widespread power outages and water disruptions - along with a major heatwave - have exposed the costs of extensive diversion of public resources, underinvestment and uncoordinated decision-making.
Rising costs, security flare-ups and climate shocks are fueling public frustration and undermining confidence in State institutions. Migration and refugee movements are a major concern. Smuggling, threats, hate speech and mis- and disinformation targeting migrants, refugees and UN staff are deepening vulnerabilities.
Council members urged Libyan actors to seize the opening for political progress, build consensus through an inclusive, Libyan-led process, uphold ceasefires and ensure civilian protection. They called for stronger oversight – especially of national revenues and the integration of climate risk into the UN’s work. Libya, in turn, took issue with external interference in the country's political process over the years. Libyan ownership of the political transition must move from an “announced principle” to a concrete process, he insisted.
