Madam President (Denmark), Excellencies, distinguished members of the Security Council, Ambassador Taher El-Sonni, Permanent Representative of the State of Libya,
I would like to begin by thanking this Council for your steadfast support for UNSMIL and its efforts to advance the UNSMIL-facilitated political roadmap. This briefing will be slightly longer than previous ones in light of recent developments in Libya.
The need to move Libya’s political process forward remains crucial. The recent widespread electricity outages and public discontent, exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave, have exposed the consequences of institutional fragmentation, large-scale diversion of public resources, underinvestment and uncoordinated decision-making, all of which are essentially failures of governance. Critical infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to pressures that Libya cannot ignore due to its impact on people across all three regions of the country.
This is why the political process is about more than bridging political differences. It is about restoring the State’s capacity to provide for its people, manage its resources responsibly under unified institutions, provide security and create resilience to confront the various social, environmental and other risks to which it is exposed.
Madam President,
I would like to recall the steps taken by UNSMIL to advance this objective. A year ago, I presented to this Council a roadmap that aims to help Libya move towards elections, end successive transitional arrangements and restore the unity, cohesion and legitimacy of its national institutions. It was grounded in the recommendations of the Advisory Committee and informed by consultations held across the country.
The roadmap is based on three mutually reinforcing pillars: a credible path to presidential and legislative elections; an inclusive Structured Dialogue to address governance challenges undermining peace and stability; and the reunification of executive institutions through a unified government and preparing the country for elections to ensure state authority has democratic legitimacy.
In relation to the first pillar, progress on the reconstitution of the High National Elections Commission and the constitutional and legal framework stalled in the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, despite our efforts to advance them through dialogue with the two chambers. Your excellencies Members of Council, you will recall that by early 2026 it became clear that the impasse required a more focused mechanism.
Thus, UNSMIL established the Small Convening, also known as the 4+4 committee. Since its inaugural meeting on 29 April, the Small Convening has met seven times under UNSMIL auspices, four of them since my last briefing. The next meeting will be convened on 20 August. It is reaching its conclusion, having addressed some of the most contentious issues in the legal and constitutional framework of elections and the reconstitution of the Board of HNEC. Remaining steps entail agreeing on the mechanism for the endorsement of its outcomes.
In parallel with the Small Convening, UNSMIL has advanced through another pillar of the roadmap with the successful completion on 6 June of the six-month Structured Dialogue process. Its recommendations, which I presented to the Council in my last briefing, address governance, the economy, security, reconciliation and human rights. These outcomes not only inform the immediate political process but provide the beginnings of a national framework to guide current and future authorities in prioritising reforms to unify and strengthen state institutions and build a more stable and prosperous Libya.
On 16 August we held a meeting with the members of the Political Working Group of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya of the Berlin process, to apprise them of progress and seek their feedback on the ongoing implementation of the roadmap, bearing in mind the political challenges currently prevalent in Libya.
As the Small Convening concludes its work, we are now considering how best to proceed with the next milestone of the roadmap: advancing the unification of government and institutions capable of leading the country towards elections. We count on the continued constructive engagement of Libyan stakeholders to advance this phase with broad national ownership and acceptance. UNSMIL will consult with Libyan stakeholders, members of the Security Council and key international partners to adapt the roadmap where necessary while remaining firmly anchored in its objectives and drawing on the provisions of existing political agreements, relevant legal frameworks and the outcomes of the Structured Dialogue.
Madam President,
On 29 July, the High Council of State held its annual elections to renew its Presidency Bureau. I congratulate the newly elected Bureau and look forward to constructive engagement with members of the High Council of State in advancing the UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap.
The need to advance the political process is evident in the challenges affecting Libyans’ daily lives. The government has a responsibility to ensure prudent financial management of the country’s resources to deliver public goods and services and ensure the safety and security of the population regardless of their location. This is the minimum expectation. Beyond this, greater economic stability and tangible improvements in people’s lives would be of significant benefit.
In July, major electricity blackouts affected large parts of the country, disrupting electricity and water supplies for hundreds of thousands of Libyans. These electricity cuts have continued into August. This followed the loss of generating capacity amid weeks of worsening controlled power cuts driven by fuel shortages, declining gas availability and pressure on an already fragile electricity network. The contradiction is that this is occurring in a country that does not lack energy resources and has the largest petroleum deposits on the African continent.
The crisis highlights a striking paradox. According to National Oil Corporation (NOC) data, approximately USD 1 billion is spent monthly on fuel imports, yet electricity systems remain vulnerable to fuel shortages. Evidence of large-scale diversion of subsidised fuel in the electricity and security sectors, as I have highlighted in previous briefings and has also been reported by the panel of experts, underscores the need for stronger oversight, accountability and coordination to ensure public resources are used to deliver the essential services Libyans depend on. The diversion of subsidised fuel is an unacceptable abuse of public resources and those responsible must be investigated and held accountable. Libyans should not be paying the price for such practices.
The same imperative applies to Libya’s broader fiscal trajectory. In June the Central Bank of Libya commenced implementing salary increases for military and security personnel in eastern Libya following a request from the Libyan National Army in December 2025 and subsequent legislation for this by the House of Representatives. A similar request was reportedly made to the Central Bank from western Libya. Any unplanned increase in recurrent expenditure such as salaries and subsidised fuel risks undermining the fiscal discipline envisaged under the Unified Development Programme (UDP) framework.
This framework provides an important basis for managing fluctuating oil revenues and containing recurrent spending. It also seeks to direct revenue surpluses towards productive investment and NOC development under stronger oversight. However, full implementation of the UDP has regrettably stalled although there are indications that efforts are under way to disburse tranches of the NOC’s operational allocations. The UDP’s credibility will ultimately depend on whether its agreed parameters are respected and implemented. The House of Representatives and the High Council of State, who are signatories to the UDP agreement, also have oversight responsibilities regarding compliance with its framework and an obligation to ensure the provisions of the relevant agreement are respected in their own decision-making processes.
On 9 August the Governor of the Central Bank of Libya submitted a letter to the two chambers requesting to be relieved of his position. The move is an indication of the mounting pressure on the Central Bank - precisely the pressure the Unified Development Programme spending framework was intended to contain. The concerns raised by the Governor should be treated with seriousness and a sense of urgency. We encourage the Central Bank to resume publication of its monthly revenue and expenditure bulletins as previously announced in an effort to promote greater transparency and accountability.
Madam President,
Recalling the challenges in facilitating the appointment of the current Governor of the Central Bank in 2024, we believe it is important that all Libyan political actors and institutions fully assume their responsibilities to support the Governor and the Central Bank in exercising their legitimate functions. This will ensure the state can meet its financial obligations under the spending chapters of the budget.
We also urge a strong effort to bring public expenditures under control and for the parties to adhere to the UDP parameters.
The electricity crisis affects all areas of the country but has also triggered public unrest, particularly in western Libya. Following sporadic protests over power cuts in July, a more organised civil disobedience campaign from 26 to 29 July involved road blocks, strikes and temporary disruptions to key state and energy facilities. The protests, which included calls for a change of government, subsided after activists announced the reopening of state institutions on 2 August.
Separately, recent dialogue between the Government and the Deterrence Apparatus for Combatting Organized Crime and Terrorism has led to an agreement regarding security arrangements in the capital. This should help to de-escalate tensions in Tripoli and create space for a more inclusive approach to security arrangements. I encourage continued engagement to consolidate this progress.
The security environment along Libya’s western coast remains precarious amid competition among armed actors engaged in trafficking illicit drugs, human trafficking and fuel smuggling. On 3 August heavy clashes erupted among these actors in residential areas across Zawiya and Sorman resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. Furthermore, the use of several drones against the oil refinery and other vital infrastructure in Zawiya, is an emerging and worrying development suggesting deliberate targeting of the oil facility causing structural damage, risk of fires, and disruption of water supplies. On 10 August the National Oil Corporation declared a state of emergency at the refinery and called for urgent investigations into these attacks. The strikes on civilian infrastructure require thorough investigation and the perpetrators must be held accountable. This has broader implications not only for Zawiya and Sorman but for the delivery of public goods and services to the wider population of the Western region of the country.
These events also underscore the urgent need for the development of professional, neutral and unified security institutions capable of exercising effective authority under the rule of law. I welcome the formation of the Western Region Security Arrangements Committee by the Chief of Staff – General Namroush, led by a senior officer of the 5 +5 Joint Military Commission, and the establishment and deployment of a Joint Military-Security Force on the Western Coast Road to restore calm. These measures can be effective in ending violence if they receive appropriate support and I urge the Prime Minister and the Government of National Unity to provide the required resources to address this situation on a sustainable basis. UNSMIL will continue to provide technical support to the Security Arrangements Committee and engage relevant political, security, municipal and other local actors to help prevent further violence and restore peace on a more sustained basis. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones, or sustained injuries during these clashes.
We also note that Benghazi experienced a violent incident with the assassination of Major General Fawzi Mansuri, Director of the Military Intelligence Department for the LNA, on 10August, in a reported car bombing. We condemn such acts of targeted violence and urge the authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. My deepest condolences to his colleagues in the LNA and his loved ones on their loss.
In a positive development, the two Chiefs of General Staff from the West and East, Salah Eddine Al-Namroush and Khaled Haftar met in Sirte on 12 July. Attended by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, the 3+3 Military Committee established under the US track, and UNSMIL, the meeting demonstrated that practical confidence-building measures remain possible. The Chiefs agreed on the principle to establish a Joint Border Force and undertake joint exercises, regular coordination and harmonised training. These agreed activities, when realized, would provide an important foundation for broader military unification efforts.
Madam President,
Persisting violence in Libya underscores the need to preserve national security institutions. However, contested appointments risk further fragmentation. On 28 June the Presidential Council issued decrees dismissing the Director of the Libyan General Intelligence Service and appointing a successor, which were immediately contested by one of Vice Presidents of the Presidential Council, prompting competing claims on procedural and legal grounds. I urge Libyan actors to peacefully resolve this dispute as per the Libyan Political Agreement, through consensus to safeguard this institution’s unity and national character.
Regrettably, the fragmentation of the judiciary, as I have previously reported to this Council, persists. The conflicting outcomes of judicial challenges filed in relation to the dismissal and appointment of the intelligence chief demonstrate why this situation also needs to be addressed urgently.
Madam President,
Women in Libya continue to call for their, equal, meaningful and safe participation in public life. I am concerned by the increase in hate speech, intimidation and misinformation targeting women and seeking to silence or marginalise their voices. A video appeared on social media in July showing the public flogging of a woman by judicial police in Sabha. I welcome the prompt call for investigation by Libyan authorities, but this incident further underscores the urgent need to uphold due process, legal safeguards and Libya’s human rights obligations.
These developments are fundamentally at odds with Libya’s aspiration to play a stronger role in advancing regional and international peace and security which require a demonstrated commitment to human rights, inclusion, dignity and equality. Protecting women’s rights and participation in all aspects of public life is indispensable to Libya’s political transition and lasting peace.
Meanwhile, efforts in eastern and western Libya to review detention cases and improve prison conditions continued, including through the holding of the first International Benghazi Conference on Justice and Reform on 29-30 July. These are important efforts which must now translate into action: critical legislative reforms, releasing those arbitrarily detained, granting independent monitors access to detention facilities and investigating allegations of abuse.
Madam President,
Anti-migration narratives and misinformation continue to harm vulnerable populations and constrain the humanitarian response. The prolonged closure of UNHCR’s office has further limited access to essential protection services. I urge the authorities to safeguard humanitarian space, counter incitement and uphold their responsibilities towards refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in need of protection.
Madam President,
As I noted at the outset, climate pressures are making the consequences of divided and weak governance more severe in Libya. I therefore welcome the endorsement on 7 July of Libya’s Strategic Climate Framework, including its first Nationally Determined Contribution, National Adaptation Plan and Initial National Communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, alongside the National Water Security Strategy adopted in April.
This framework establishes an important foundation for water security, renewable energy and climate adaptation and mobilising international support. Its value will be measured not by what is adopted on paper but by what is implemented on the ground across Libya to deliver tangible results for its people.
Madam President,
The UNSMIL-facilitated roadmap has made important progress. The Structured Dialogue concluded and the first two milestones of the roadmap have advanced, including on some of the most sensitive issues. However, it is important to note that progress does not solely require the efforts of UNSMIL but a sustained willingness of the Libyan political actors to engage constructively. We will continue to work with all parties, holding discussions and consultations in an effort to address any concerns and misgivings, and working to build trust to advance the roadmap. Establishing parallel tracks and initiatives can create opportunities for wasting time and forum shopping, we believe that this should be discouraged.
We now enter a critical phase: advancing unified institutions and the conditions necessary for inclusive elections. This requires political resolve and compromise from Libyan stakeholders with priority given to the national interest and the interests of the Libyan people across the country. Sustained and coordinated international support is also essential.
The roadmap may require more time than initially envisaged. This is not a loss of direction but a necessary adaptation to political realities and the views of Libyan stakeholders and international partners. UNSMIL will continue its efforts to advance the process with determination.
The path has been challenging but progress is possible. It requires political will, acceptance of responsibility and persistence by all key stakeholders. UNSMIL remains committed to supporting Libyans in building the legitimate and effective institutions that they deserve.