Media Home
UN Web TV
UN PhotoSecurity Council
8341st Security Council Meeting: Situation in Libya
A fragile peace is in place in Libya following the recent outbreak of violence in Tripoli and the brokering of a ceasefire agreement, the senior United Nations official in that country said today while briefing the Security Council.
Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary‑General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), said the violence that consumed the capital beginning on 25 August shattered the facade of calm that had prevailed in Tripoli since May 2017. The Mission is now working to underpin the ceasefire it brokered on 4 September and will continue to hold broad consultations while helping to establish the Special Monitoring Mechanism for Libya, he said.
Libyans are fed up with living on the poverty line as their national resources are looted by gunmen‑turned‑millionaires, he continued, emphasizing: “We must not return to the status quo.” There is an urgent need to establish strong and unified civilian and military institutions that will work for the benefit of all citizens. Turning to economic issues, he stressed that ending plundering is vital to both economic reform and the political process. The Central Bank of Libya and the Government of National Accord must move forward on currency exchange rate and subsidy reform.
While it is clear that Libyans want a change in political leadership, the House of Representatives has failed to deliver the required election and referendum legislation, he said, cautioning that if that continues, it will be necessary to close the chapter on the present approach and embrace other ways to achieve peaceful political change.
Olof Skoog (Sweden), speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya, provided an update on its work, recalling that on 23 August, it heard a presentation by the Panel of Experts on its final report under resolution 2367 (2017), and discussed the recommendations contained therein. The main issues included violations of the arms embargo; violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including in the context of human trafficking and migrant smuggling; illicit exports of crude oil and refined petroleum products from Libya; and the implementation of the assets freeze.
Several members of the Council also spoke today, condemning the recent violence and applauding efforts by UNSMIL and the Special Representative in securing the peace agreement. Ethiopia’s representative noted that the use of violence by armed groups to control State institutions is a major impediment to resolving the crisis in Libya. She stressed the importance of implementing the United Nations Plan of Action.
The Russian Federation’s delegate cautioned that holding elections before Libyan society is ready to enter the electoral phase risks re‑opening old wounds. He went on to emphasize that Libya’s natural resources should not be used for the geopolitical machinations of external States, adding that the involvement of international financial organizations should be considered carefully.
Libya’s representative stressed the vital importance of free and fair elections, and of creating credible State institutions. However, the United Nations Plan of Action remains mostly unimplemented more than a year after its adoption. He also said subversive actors are interfering in the functioning of the State’s banking sector, resulting in low liquidity and a lack of basic services. “Supporters of armed groups in other countries must refrain from spreading their venom in my country,” he stressed, calling upon the Council to consider sanctions against those who stand in the way of peace.
Also speaking today were representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Equatorial Guinea, Peru, Kazakhstan, Poland, Kuwait, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Sweden (in his national capacity), Netherlands, Bolivia and the United States.
The meeting began at 3:02 p.m. and ended at 4:56 p.m.