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8394th Security Council Meeting: Situation in Libya
Describing “fragile but palpable” improvements in Tripoli’s security situation, the top United Nations official in Libya today outlined efforts to support the country’s authorities in tackling rampant terrorism, overcoming its political stalemate and ending the criminal plundering of national wealth that drives millions of Libyans deeper into poverty each day.
Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), warned the 15‑member Council that Libya — a country endowed with great resources and wealth — is at risk of becoming “the tragedy of lost opportunity”. While a ceasefire negotiated by the Mission at the end of September ended much of the fighting in the capital, he nevertheless recalled that more than 120 people were killed in just one month. Outlining UNSMIL’s efforts to consolidate the ceasefire and minimize the prospects of a similar crisis returning, he emphasized that armed groups from outside Tripoli should not attempt to invade again and groups operating from inside the city must stop using their position to penetrate, intimidate or control Libya’s sovereign State institutions.
“The Libyan conflict is in large part over resources,” he said, noting that the country, which produces up to 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, collected over $13 billion in just the first half of 2018. However, Libyans have grown increasingly poor as criminals steal billions from the national coffers. Calling for expedited economic reforms — critical to improving living conditions and eradicating Libya’s shadow economy — he went on to underline the importance of political leadership that promotes the best interests of the population.
“Libyans are sick and tired of military adventurism and petty political manoeuvres,” he emphasized, calling for a Libyan-led National Conference in early 2019 with a subsequent electoral process to follow. He also urged Member States to support efforts to combat foreign terrorist fighters — including Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) and Al‑Qaida members — in the south.
As Council members took the floor, many strongly condemned a militia attack on Tripoli’s Jalaa Hospital for Women and Childbirth earlier this week. Several also expressed support for UNSMIL’s work, particularly its efforts to push forward a balanced political resolution, as well as the Council’s own recent resolution renewing sanctions to punish those responsible for the rampant human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Kuwait’s representative commended both UNSMIL’s work and the implementation of the ceasefire it helped to negotiate in Tripoli, as well as new security arrangements there. However, efforts must be intensified to bring about a unified security mechanism under the control of the legitimate Government in order to end factional fighting, terrorist activity and serious crimes. Joining other speakers in welcoming the convening of a support conference in Palermo, Italy, he also voiced support for efforts to implement Libya’s long‑awaited economic reforms which have already helped to strengthen its currency.
Sweden’s delegate, meanwhile, said the spike in violence in Tripoli earlier this year shattered the capital and put the country at the brink. Urging all parties to end hostilities, protect civilians and refrain from destabilizing threats, he stressed that only through political solutions can a sustainable peace be reached in Libya. Elections must be prepared and all parties must respect results. Noting that economic issues underpin the crisis, he joined other speakers, saying that economic reforms will ensure a fairer distribution of resources.
The representative of Equatorial Guinea echoed the condemnation voiced by many speakers of this week’s attack on the Jalaa Hospital in Tripoli, warning perpetrators that such cowardly actions — meant to intimidate and spread fear – run counter to international law and could amount to war crimes. He also voiced his concern about the plight of migrants trapped in Libya who are suffering from systematic human rights violations or terrible conditions and are even falling victim to human smuggling or being sold into slavery. Welcoming the recent renewal of the Libya sanctions regime and the designation of new individuals suspected of such crimes, he nevertheless stressed that a further step is needed to prevent outside groups from financing human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and proposed that the Council establish a specific investigation into any such financiers.
Libya’s representative, welcoming the Special Representative’s efforts, nevertheless called for the further development of UNSMIL’s work. Libyans — still beset by terrorists in many parts of the country, even though they are trying to transition to a modern, democratic State — are wondering whether Council resolutions are being implemented. Meanwhile, some States have been violating the sanctions regime. Yet, the Council has not taken any measures against them, allowing his country to be robbed of its assets.
Urging the Council to distinguish between political parties and armed groups, which must be dismantled, he stressed that his country’s security must be unified under the national armed forces. “The current situation in Libya must end; it must not continue indefinitely,” he declared, adding that the freezing of Libyan assets are having a negative effect as they are not being managed well and funds are being lost. A better mechanism for managing the assets, in conjunction with the Libyan structures to which they belong, must be found.
Also speaking were representatives of the United Kingdom, France, United States, Netherlands, Peru, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Poland, Russian Federation, Bolivia, Kazakhstan and China.
The meeting began at 3:02 p.m. and ended at 4:55 p.m.
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