SC/15603

27 February 2024

Security Council Press Statement on Libya

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana):

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to an inclusive, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations, which builds on the updated electoral laws agreed by the 6+6 Committee, and which will enable the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections across Libya as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily, in particular his mediation and good-offices role to further an inclusive political process, in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, and building on the Libyan Political Agreement and the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Roadmap, as well as updated electoral laws agreed by the 6+6 Committee.  The members of the Security Council called upon the international community to fully support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNSMIL in the implementation of their mandate.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General’s efforts to convene the Libyan institutional stakeholders to support progress towards the holding of free, fair, transparent and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections across Libya as soon as possible, including by ensuring the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women at all levels.  The members of the Security Council called on all the key stakeholders to engage fully with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in good faith and without preconditions and make the compromises necessary to move the country forward towards elections.

The members of the Security Council reinforced the importance of making concrete progress on the security, economic, political, and international humanitarian law and human rights tracks.  The Security Council further emphasized the importance of providing a safe environment for civil society organizations to work freely and to protect them from threats and reprisals.

The members of the Security Council recalled that individuals or entities who threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya, or obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition, including by obstructing or undermining the elections, may be designated under Security Council sanctions.

⁠The members of the Security Council underlined the importance of an inclusive reconciliation process based on the principles of transitional justice and accountability and welcomed the efforts of the Presidential Council to launch the national reconciliation process, with the support of the African Union, including facilitating the National Reconciliation Conference scheduled to take place on 28 April in Sirte.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong support to Libya’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity.  The members of the Security Council reiterated their call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya without delay, in line with the provisions of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement and Security Council resolutions 2701 (2023) and 2702 (2023).  They expressed concerns in light of rising tensions in Libya, including proliferation of armed militias, and recalled that successful completion of Libya’s political transition offers the best chance to create peace, stability and security for the Libyan people.