S/PV.9862 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Libya to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo. Ms. DiCarlo: I am pleased to brief the Security Council on recent developments in Libya. Two days ago, Libya marked the fourteenth anniversary of the 17 February revolution, but the dream of a civil, democratic and prosperous Libya remains unfulfilled. Entrenched divisions, economic mismanagement, continued human rights violations and competing domestic and external interests continue to erode Libya’s unity and stability. There is an urgent need for progress in Libya. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), mandated by the Council, is taking steps to revive a Libyan political process, anchored in the principles of inclusivity and national ownership. Let me brief members on key ongoing efforts. On 4 February, an Advisory Committee was established by UNSMIL. It is tasked with providing recommendations to address the contentious issues in the electoral legislation that have prevented the holding of national elections. It is not a decision-making body, but its proposals will support efforts to remove obstacles to holding national elections in Libya. The Committee is composed of 20 Libyan personalities, including legal and constitutional experts. Thirty-five per cent of them are women. On 9 and 10 February, UNSMIL convened in Tripoli the inaugural meeting of the Advisory Committee. Many Libyan stakeholders, including political parties, social movements and women’s and youth groups, have publicly welcomed its establishment as an opportunity to move the political process forward. Yesterday, the Committee reconvened for three days to examine in detail the contentious issues and begin considering options on how to overcome them. In parallel, UNSMIL is also taking steps to convene a structured dialogue among Libyans on ways to address long-standing drivers of conflict and develop an inclusive, bottom-up vision for their country’s future. Recognizing the importance of a strong, equitable and resilient economy for stability in Libya, UNSMIL is facilitating consultations among independent Libyan economic experts to identify priorities, barriers and solutions to achieve sound economic governance. In this regard, a meeting was organized in Tunis on 10 and 11 February. Divisions and competition over the control of State institutions continue to dominate the Libyan political and economic landscape. Despite UNSMIL engagement with all relevant stakeholders, no progress has been made on a unified budget or an After six months of litigation and contradictory judicial rulings, the dispute over the position of President of the High Council of State remains unresolved. Although some of its members are attempting to transcend the current divisions, the High Council of State stands deeply divided and unable to fulfil its institutional role. Politicization and political divisions are also hindering progress on national reconciliation. Despite an UNSMIL-facilitated agreement in December among the Presidential Council, the House of Representatives and the High Council of State on a draft law for national reconciliation, subsequent amendments to the draft law by parliamentarians have raised concerns over the independence of a future National Reconciliation Commission. Earlier this month, through a process led by the African Union, a charter for reconciliation was agreed in Zintan and adopted on 14 February in Addis Ababa, on the margins of the African Union Summit. While some Libyan stakeholders have supported the charter, others did not. UNSMIL continues to engage with all relevant parties to urge them to pursue a rights-based, inclusive national reconciliation process free from political interference. Following successful local elections in 56 municipalities in November 2024, the High National Elections Commission has begun preparations for the next group of 63 municipal council elections. The preliminary candidate nomination phase has concluded, with more than 4,900 candidates nominated, out of whom 1,345 are women. This is to be followed by voter registration. Funding from the Government is crucial to enable the High National Elections Commission to implement the next phase of municipal council elections. On the security front, the activities of non-State and quasi-State armed actors continue to pose a threat to Libya’s fragile stability. On 12 February, the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Mr. Adel Juma, was injured in an armed attack on his car in Tripoli. We call for a full and transparent investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. In the south, the Libyan National Army took control of a military base in Awbari previously held by a Government of National Unity-affiliated military officer. The 2020 ceasefire agreement has only been partially implemented. Renewed efforts by Libyan authorities to implement its remaining provisions are crucial to improve the fragile security situation and to create conditions for the reunification and reform of security institutions. In a positive development, in December, UNSMIL facilitated the establishment of a joint technical team of senior military and police officers from the Government of National Unity and the Libyan National Army. The aim is to improve coordination and information-sharing on border security, counter-terrorism and irregular migration. The continuing trend of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances across Libya is deeply concerning. We appeal to Libyan authorities to take urgent steps to cease those practices and uphold the rights of detainees to due process, including the right to a fair trial and to legal counsel. UNSMIL continues to engage with authorities to strengthen legal safeguards, accountability and civic space. The increasing number of deaths in custody is troubling, with 15 cases recorded since March 2024. While UNSMIL has been recently granted access to detention facilities Migrants and asylum-seekers, including children, continue to face serious human rights violations across Libya, including torture and cruel and inhumane treatment. The alarming and tragic discovery of mass graves following raids on human trafficking sites highlights the severe danger faced by migrants in Libya. On 7 February, a mass grave was discovered on a farm in Jikharrah, in north-eastern Libya, and a day later, another mass grave was discovered in Al-Kufra, in the south-east. To date, 93 bodies have been exhumed in Jikharrah and the Al-Kufra district. A full and independent investigation is critical to bring the perpetrators to justice. This is yet another reminder of the urgent need to protect migrants and combat human trafficking. In December, a joint UNSMIL and United Nations country team mission to Al-Kufra engaged with local authorities, partners, refugees and host communities to strengthen humanitarian responses for Sudanese refugees. The 2025 Libyan chapter of the Sudan refugee regional response plan targets 446,000 individuals and requires $106 million — double the support from 2024 — as refugees continue to arrive in Libya. I appeal to donors for their continued support to address the growing needs of Sudanese refugees in Libya and across the region. The fragile stability in Libya is increasingly at risk. The country’s leaders and security actors are failing to put the national interest ahead of their competition for political and personal gain. I urge Council members to extend their support to the newly appointed Special Representative Hanna Tetteh in her work to help break the political impasse, resolve Libya’s protracted crisis and support the Libyan people towards unifying Libya’s institutions and holding inclusive national elections. Ms. Tetteh will be taking up her functions in Tripoli tomorrow. I also express my deep appreciation for Deputy Special Representative Stephanie Koury who, as Officer-in-Charge, laid important groundwork for the United Nations- facilitated political process.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. Pending the election of the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of subsidiary bodies, and following the understanding reached among Council members in that regard, I have the honour to report to the Security Council on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. The report covers the period from 17 December 2024 to 19 February 2025. For the sake of brevity, I will not read out the report, as it has been distributed to Committee members and will be posted on the Committee’s website. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing this morning. I also welcome the recent appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh as the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya. We look forward to working with her to harness the momentum of the new political initiative of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). I echo the Under-Secretary- General’s thanks to Deputy Special Representative Koury for her leadership over the past nine months. I would like to make three points. First, we welcome the establishment of the Advisory Committee as an important first step in UNSMIL’s political track. With the Committee’s expertise, and under Special Representative Tetteh’s leadership, that initiative has the potential to chart a positive path towards a more stable and representative Libya. Thirdly, we are appalled by the recent discovery of multiple mass graves of migrants. The Panel of Experts’ final report (S/2024/914) showed that trafficking networks in Libya are expanding. The United Kingdom supports UNSMIL’s call for a full investigation into those discoveries. We encourage Libyan leaders to engage with the United Nations and the humanitarian community to end impunity for those who trade in human suffering and to ensure that all migrants and refugees are treated in accordance with international human rights law. The United Kingdom recently provided $5.6 million to the refugee response in Libya. Until a unifying political agreement is achieved in Libya, it will be impossible to unlock its great potential. The United Kingdom urges Libya’s leaders to engage seriously with Special Representative Tetteh and UNSMIL’s political process in the interests of all Libyans.

We are grateful to the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, for her briefing. We welcome the appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The lengthy operations of the Mission in the absence of a head appointed under a Security Council mandate has already had a negative impact on the entire Libyan settlement process. Unfortunately, the situation has been exacerbated further by the dubious working methods of the provisional leadership of UNSMIL, which we have referred to openly in this Chamber, as well as the advancement of initiatives that were undeveloped and not agreed upon with the Libyan people. Such ambiguous proposals include the so-called “Advisory Committee”, recently created under the auspices of UNSMIL, without consulting Council members, whose task is to draft recommendations for reviving the political process in Libya. As we all remember perfectly well, previous experiences in creating such frameworks have been unsuccessful, to put it mildly, due to their lack of inclusiveness and to doubts that Libyans themselves had about the impartiality of the frameworks. Our understanding is that this body has a purely technical function and that its work will be coordinated with the key Libyan stakeholders before being brought to the attention of Council members; otherwise, we will again be contending with an attempt to impose on the Libyans something that is unacceptable to them for historical, political, ethnic or religious reasons — factors that must be given the utmost consideration. The new Special Representative faces the difficult task of redressing those imbalances and revitalizing United Nations mediation efforts in Libya in the interests of the Libyan people. We trust that, in her work, Ms. Tetteh will adhere strictly to the mandate agreed upon by the Council. We expect from the Special Representative an impartial approach, a sober assessment of the political climate in the country and sensitivity to the aspirations of its inhabitants. It also unacceptable for the agenda of certain groups of States to be promoted under the guise of a settlement and for non-inclusive frameworks for external support for the Libyan political process to be encouraged. The unity of the Council on the Libyan issue is critical, and we must do all we can to preserve it. Under the current circumstances, United Nations mediation efforts should be focused on the primary task of rekindling the national dialogue and fostering conditions conducive to holding inclusive national elections in which all influential political forces in the country, including representatives of the former Government, participate. Unfortunately, those attempts have thus far been of no avail. Accordingly, parties would be well-advised to leverage existing groundwork, including the outcomes of cooperation on the interparliamentary track. Nor should we overlook mediation initiatives by regional organizations and individual countries that are pursuing a goal that they share with the United Nations. We see tremendous potential in efforts to promote a process of national reconciliation through the African Union. We sincerely hope that, in taking those factors in consideration, Ms. Tetteh will be able to break the deadlock in the Libyan political process. We wish her every success in her future endeavours. Russia, as a permanent member of the Council, stands ready to provide her all the necessary assistance to that end. We are following closely developments in Libya, which has been unable to overcome a profound systemic crisis of statehood since the NATO aggression in 2011. This month marks the fourteenth anniversary of the near-destruction of Libyan statehood as a result of the egregious Western interference and the de facto division of the country, which continues. Unfortunately, the risk of the country’s collapse looms large, and armed groups continue to abound in the country. In January, they clashed, deploying heavy weaponry, in the immediate vicinity of the suburbs of the Libyan capital. In that connection, we can only welcome the efforts aimed at facilitating the creation of unified Libyan armed forces. However, any such projects must enjoy the concerted support of Libyan stakeholders and be genuinely inclusive and transparent — a regrettably remote eventuality. Also of grave concern is the deepening financial and economic crisis in Libya. Against a backdrop of declining revenues from energy exports, inflation is rising, wages are not being paid and the standard of living is falling. Food security remains under threat. We note Libyan stakeholders’ efforts to rectify the situation. We consider it counterproductive to impose ready-made solutions on them in matters of budget and economic policy. Libyans regard such tutelage as interference in the sovereign affairs of the country. External actors would be well-advised to focus instead on preserving Libya’s frozen assets and protecting them from foreign seizure. Here, too, unfortunately, not everything is going smoothly, as the Libyans regularly point out to us. We are convinced that decisive progress towards normalization in Libya can be achieved only through the joint efforts of all Libyan stakeholders and influential international and regional players. We trust that UNSMIL, under new leadership, will finally be able to fulfil its mandate and become an effective instrument for coordinating international mediation efforts in the country.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. I also welcome the participation of the representative of Libya in our meeting. First and foremost, as a neighbouring country, Greece supports a strong, stable and unified Libya, free from any form of foreign interference — a country worthy of the proud Libyan people. We fully support Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. At the same time, all its actions should be guided by adherence to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Stability in Libya remains key for the region, and even more so for its immediate neighbours, such as Greece, which are affected by the significant increase in irregular migration flows, among other factors. Greece fully supports the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), a peacekeeping mission that has endeavoured to play a constructive role in fostering an inclusive political process towards a better future for Libya. We are therefore very pleased to see its mandate renewed and, recently, automatically extended. We also welcome the appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General and new Head of UNSMIL. We are confident that she — as a highly qualified person with an extensive set of indisputable credentials — will bring her vast experience and expertise to bear in her new role. It would be remiss of us not to mention the efforts of Deputy Special Representative Stephanie Koury, which have been particularly impactful. We commend her on her commitment and her tireless efforts in tacking key problems in the Libyan file. Achievements such as the breaking of the deadlock around the Central Bank of Libya have not gone unappreciated. In addition, we welcome the announcement of the establishment and mandate of the Advisory Committee as a significant step in the United Nations-facilitated, Libya-led political process. In that context, we commend UNSMIL and Ms. Koury personally for their initiative and determination in ensuring a balanced composition in the Committee’s membership. Our hope is that this will constitute an essential milestone along the path to national elections and lead, ultimately, to the country’s stability and prosperity. In that respect, the objectives and governing principles, as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum’s road map, are still relevant to the political process. Overcoming the protracted political deadlock so as to move towards the long-awaited national elections in order to renew and re-establish the legitimacy of Libya’s institutions has been no easy task. The holding of elections should be a key priority for the international community. Greece welcomes the holding of the first round of municipal elections in Libya. However, it is difficult for any political process to flourish in an environment in which the security situation remains fragile. We call on all stakeholders to engage in dialogue, with a view to strengthening institutions. At the same time, we remain concerned about the prolonged presence of foreign military forces in Libya. There needs to be a clear timeline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, regular and irregular, and of mercenaries from the Libyan soil, as their presence is not conducive to stability, to the advancement of the political process in Libya or to the holding of free, fair and democratic elections. Greece welcomed the sanctions renewal last month, as the adoption of the resolution (resolution 2769 (2025)) managed to strike a fine balance between prolonging restrictions, on the one hand, and safeguarding the benefits of the Libyan people, on the other. In that context, Greece underscored the addition of the designation criteria relating to the support of armed groups and criminal networks and addressed the Libyan Investment Authority’s concerns. We now reiterate expectations that all parties, while abstaining from abuses that could negatively affect the peace process, implement the additional provisions in good faith. In conclusion, allow me to reiterate that Greece is committed to a strong, stable, prosperous and unified Libya, a Libya in which the rule of law is restored, and a Libya that will be a responsible stakeholder upholding international law and a country in which all citizens can reap the benefits of electoral processes, free of foreign interference or attempts at destabilization. We sincerely wish Ms. Tetteh and her team all the best in facilitating Libya’s pathway towards peace and prosperity — a destination that can only be reached through dialogue.

We thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her detailed briefing today. We also thank you, Mr. President, for presenting the report on the work of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya in your interim role as Acting Chair. We welcome Ms. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh’s appointment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, and we sincerely hope that, given her rich experience, especially in the region, she will help to deliver concrete results for peace and stability in Libya. As a traditional friend of Libya and its people, Pakistan will earnestly contribute to the efforts of the United Nations to promote peace and stability in Libya. We reiterate our commitment to Libya’s sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity. My delegation is satisfied that the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has been extended until October 2025. We are also happy to note that the recent renewal of the sanctions regime included a clause relating to reinvesting Libya’s frozen assets for the benefit of the Libyan people. We continue to maintain that the assets freeze measures are not meant to be punitive in nature and that their main objective is to protect the assets for the benefit of the Libyan people at a later stage. With the procedural steps of mandate extension and the appointment of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in place, it is time to focus on restoring peace and stability in Libya and ensuring the well-being of the Libyan people. The role of UNSMIL is critical in facilitating that process. Some positive steps have been taken, but our main objective should be clear — that is, to deliver free, fair, transparent and inclusive national presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya, which is the best means of promoting peace and unity in the country. My delegation notes that the High National Elections Commission of Libya has announced the commencement of the second phase of municipal council elections in Libya for 63 municipalities across the country. Similarly, the elections held in 58 municipalities last November, with a significant turnout of more than 77 per cent of registered voters, were a positive development. We are also happy to see the increased contact between all the stakeholders in Libya as they work to lead the country towards inclusive presidential and legislative elections. The reported agreement between eastern and western Libyan military and security institutions on a project to establish a joint centre for communication and information exchange to secure Libya’s borders is also interesting. The formation Nevertheless, those are preliminary steps. We believe that, building on these encouraging developments, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UNSMIL should formulate a clear plan to achieve the aim of organizing free, fair and inclusive elections in Libya. Without a doubt, there are formidable challenges, and those have been mentioned here by Ms. DiCarlo and other speakers. The most formidable of those challenges is the need to build trust and confidence between the various groups and parties within Libya. That will require a well-defined comprehensive peacebuilding and reconciliation strategy to fast-track the transition towards inclusive elections and sustainable peace. A Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process is the only path to sustainable peace and stability. Pakistan encourages all Libyan stakeholders to maintain the momentum and constructively address all outstanding issues through meaningful dialogue, paving the way for the unification of all institutions. The political reconciliation process should offer peace dividends to all citizens and focus on securing an equitable distribution of national resources. Pakistan will remain a steadfast partner in supporting Libya’s march towards peace, stability and prosperity.

At the outset, allow me to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for updating us on recent developments in Libya and on the continued efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to facilitate political dialogues and promote a lasting solution to the current crisis. Panama is closely following events in Libya, a country that continues to face political, social and security challenges. Despite national and international efforts, the situation remains very complex. The rivalry between political factions and the proliferation of powerful armed groups continue to delay progress towards a sustainable and stable peace. Contributing to the complexity of the situation in a worrisome manner is the known existence of a foreign presence on the ground, that of third countries with their respective geopolitical agendas. Those countries, instead of contributing to the stabilization of the country, achieve the opposite by pursuing their own interests, not those of the Libyan people. The persistent political stalemate is one of the main causes of instability. The internationally recognized Government of National Unity and the rival factions continue to struggle for control, without reaching a robust agreement that would create the conditions for the prompt holding of fair elections in which the rules of the game are clearly defined. That apparent stalemate is compounded by the fact that Libya is functioning without a political constitution ratified by referendum and with electoral representation that has yet to be defined. In that context, further definition is required concerning the electoral registration process, the identity of the citizens who will participate as voters and candidates, and restrictions that — owing to personal sanctions or other legal reasons — could prevent the participation of some such candidates. However, recent technical developments, led by Libyan experts, and the successful holding of municipal elections, are important steps on the road to establishing a secure and transparent framework for general elections. We believe that concrete actions are key to move beyond the stalemate and allow the Libyan people to finally express themselves through the ballot box in presidential and legislative elections that must be transparent, well organized and executed, and that ensure the results are credible and the elected candidates are legitimate. With regard to the sanctions on assets imposed more than 14 years ago, which continue to affect the wealth of the Libyan people, we believe that it is fair to grant greater autonomy to Libya, allowing it to participate in decisions relating to the management and investment of its financial resources, within the framework established by the economic sanctions in force, for as long as they remain in place. Such sanctions must be carefully considered so as not to hinder the economic and political development of the country, nor punish it. The political challenge in Libya is monumental. The crisis has fragmented the country’s social fabric and institutions, making effective governance even more difficult. In that regard, Panama reiterates the importance of a comprehensive approach that combines political and economic stability with respect for human rights and the aspirations of the Libyan people. It is therefore imperative that the Security Council remain highly vigilant and aware of the situation, working in a coordinated manner to support Libya’s political transi­ tion and its progress in the electoral process, which must be Libyan-led and -owned. Panama expresses its support for UNSMIL’s efforts and welcomes the appointment of the new Special Representative, Ms. Hanna Tetteh. With the skills she has exhibited in her distinguished professional career, she is practically guaranteeing its success and is seizing a welcome opportunity to revitalize the Mission’s mandate. We trust that the Mission will continue to work to facilitate dialogue and promote a successful political transition, based precisely on dialogue and reconciliation.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, namely, Algeria, Somalia and Sierra Leone, and my own country, Guyana (A3+). We extend our thanks to Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her insightful briefing. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Libya in today’s meeting. We take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, on her recent appointment as Special Representative for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). We thank Ms. Stephanie Koury for her diligent stewardship of UNSMIL during the interim period. The A3+ also thanks the President for his briefing on the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya. Since the Council last met on the situation in Libya (see S/PV.9838), we have seen several important developments that we believe mark a positive trajectory for Libya. Those include the appointment of the new Special Representative of the Secretary- General, the extension of UNSMIL’s mandate, the renewal of the sanctions regime concerning Libya and the advancement of phase two of the municipal elections. Nevertheless, the A3+ remains concerned about the lack of progress in resolving the pending issues related to the development of draft electoral laws for the convening of national elections in Libya. The holding of those elections remains one of the key issues for addressing the impasse in Libya and for ensuring that the Libyan people are fully consulted to determine their future. We urge the United Nations, and UNSMIL in particular, to intensify efforts to support Libya in making progress on this critical matter. In that regard, the A3+ notes the establishment of the Advisory Committee as part of UNSMIL’s multitrack political initiative. We believe that an inclusive and time-bound process will be beneficial in fostering dialogue and consultations with the relevant stakeholders. We stress the importance of a fully inclusive and transparent process, and The A3+ stresses the crucial role of the representatives of the 6+6 Committee in resolving the deadlock. We urge them to engage meaningfully with Special Representative Tetteh towards breaking the deadlock, particularly on the disagreements over the electoral laws. We also urge the representatives to discuss politically viable proposals that can resolve the outstanding contentious issues. Noting the importance of restoring the trust of the Libyan people in the ongoing political processes, including the role of UNSMIL, civic participation, especially among women and youth, in those processes is essential. We call for their meaningful engagement and participation in all political processes, and for the removal of any restrictions and barriers in that regard. Regarding the security situation, the A3+ is deeply encouraged that the 2020 ceasefire continues to hold, while acknowledging the fragility of the security situation and internal divisions among the security forces, which continue to demand the Council’s full attention. The A3+ cautions against any unilateral actions that may deepen discord among Libyans and further entrench institutional divisions. Such actions could undermine the progress made on the political track, including the revival and implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement and Libyan Political Dialogue Forum. They could also affect Libya’s economic aspirations and the well-being of its population. The A3+ also emphasizes the need for Libya’s natural resources, including its oil, to be free from illegal exploitation, and reiterates that those resources should be utilized solely for the benefit of the Libyan people. The A3+ is deeply concerned about the negative impact of the conflict in the Sudan and Syria on Libya’s security apparatus. That underscores the interconnectedness of regional security and the need for collective action. We therefore reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all foreign fighters, foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya. We also stress that Libya’s territory should not be used to further military objectives in the Sudan, and urge full respect for Libya’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The A3+ acknowledges the efforts of the Government to combat illegal migration, human trafficking and arms smuggling, and to secure its borders against criminal and terrorist networks, despite the significant challenges it faces. The A3+ firmly believes that Libya`s stability is intricately tied to the continued and meaningful engagement of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to produce sustainable outcomes. We therefore welcome the recent agreement to establish a joint centre for communication and information exchange between the joint technical coordination team of military and security institutions in the east and west. That initiative will support institutions for securing Libya’s borders, including those for combating terrorism and ir­ regular migration. We encourage Member States to support that initiative through coop­ eration under the security coordination mechanism referenced in resolution 2769 (2025). At the same time, we emphasize the need for the Libyan authorities to ensure that safeguards are in place to protect the rights of refugees and migrants. In that regard, we are alarmed at the recent discovery of two mass graves in Libya, estimated to contain more than 90 bodies, and call for a thorough investigation into the matter. In conclusion, the A3+ reiterates its unwavering support for the important role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. We urge the Security Council to join us in supporting her efforts to contribute to a path of lasting peace, stability and growth for the Libyan people.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her informative briefing. I also welcome the representative of Libya to our meeting today. Like others, let me start by welcoming the appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya at this critical juncture. We also welcome the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for another nine months. We hope that, together, those developments will provide momentum towards the realization of a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process. Allow me to make three points in that regard. First, the Libyan people have the right to choose their own future. They have waited for more than three years for planned national elections to take place. Many have waited decades for their voices to be heard. Some younger generations have never been able to vote in national elections. Last year’s completion of the first round of municipal elections was a welcome first step. That step, followed by the recent launch of another round, gives hope for the long-awaited implementation of the national electoral process. We commend the Deputy Special Representative Koury for launching an initiative to address the political impasse and we hope that Special Representative Tetteh will build on that foundation in preparation for national elections. The recent announcement of the appointment and establishment of the Advisory Committee is a positive and timely development. We commend UNSMIL for ensuring a balanced gender, cultural and geographic representation. We urge all Libyan institutions and stakeholders to support the Committee’s work and to shield it from political interference. A unified national vision is essential for advancing towards national elections and institutional unification. That is the only viable pathway towards long- term stability and prosperity for the Libyan people. My second point is that women continue to face significant barriers to participating in political life in Libya. That must be urgently addressed. No woman should fear reprisals as a consequence of political engagement — online or offline. Women must be at the table where the decisions on Libya’s future are being made. They must be able to advocate publicly for their rights and interests. Like other parts of civil society, organizations promoting women’s rights should be supported and allowed to operate freely. Thirdly, Denmark remains deeply concerned about the fragile security situation in Libya. We welcome the continuing engagement of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and its efforts to reunite Libya’s military and security institutions and implement the 2020 ceasefire agreement. The continued presence of foreign fighters and mercenaries in Libya is highly destabilizing. They must be fully withdrawn. Furthermore, we condemn the continued and systematic violations of international law, especially international human rights law, being carried out by Libyan security actors. Like others, we are alarmed by the recent discovery of mass graves and call for an independent investigation to be conducted. Accountability is crucial. Denmark fully supports the International Criminal Court’s work in Libya. In conclusion, Libyans deserve independent, unified institutions. They deserve a State that abides by the rule of law — one that responds to the needs of the many, not the desires of the few. We are hopeful that the appointment of Special Representative Tetteh can lead to tangible progress. Denmark fully supports her efforts to effectively implement UNSMIL’s mandate. We urge all stakeholders to do so.

I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing and attention to the Libya file. We appreciate her steadfast commitment to ensuring that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) retains qualified leadership, and we welcome the Secretary- General’s appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh to be the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General. Her previous United Nations experience in the Sudan and South Sudan will no doubt help inform her approach to addressing Libya’s most pressing challenges. Special Representative Tetteh is fortunate that she will step into her new role at the helm of UNSMIL with Stephanie Koury at her side. Ms. Koury has performed exceptionally in her role as UNSMIL’s Officer-in-Charge since April of last year. We appreciate Ms. Koury’s efforts in working with Libyan stakeholders to resolve the Central Bank crisis. Her work demonstrated how a consensus-based approach could be used to relaunch a political process. We welcome UNSMIL’s ongoing efforts to end the political impasse in Libya, including the recent formation of UNSMIL’s Advisory Committee, which offers an important opportunity for a broad range of Libyans to develop politically viable proposals. We will continue to monitor closely its progress. A political solution is the path to long-term stability in Libya. Time is of the essence for United Nations-led efforts in the face of destabilizing activities from external actors. Key to safeguarding Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the broader reunification of Libyan institutions via east-west security integration, which is now permissible following the Council’s modification of the arms embargo last month. A high-level United States delegation visited Tripoli, Benghazi and Sirte from 4 to 6 February in order to reaffirm the importance of maintaining the Libyan ceasefire agreement and achieving the reintegration goals enshrined in successive Council resolutions. To build on that progress, we also urge Libyan parties to reach agreement on a unified budget so as to preserve Libya’s economic stability, invest in development and end persistent conflicts over revenue-sharing that have led to shutdowns in the past. Lastly, we are pleased that the Council has updated the designation criteria for individuals and entities destabilizing Libya through the illicit exploitation and export of petroleum. Fuel smuggling is leading to a massive transfer of wealth out of Libya. For the welfare of the Libyan people, that theft and corruption must be addressed.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her comprehensive briefing today. I also welcome the participation of the representative of Libya in today’s meeting. As this month marks the fourteenth anniversary since the crisis in Libya broke out, Libya now stands at a crossroads, torn between the hope of advancing towards democracy and the lingering frustration of stagnation. To overcome that prolonged political stalemate, the mediation and good offices role of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is now more crucial than ever. Moving forward, I would like to highlight three points. First, we welcome the establishment of the UNSMIL Advisory Committee and the holding of its first meeting last week. We believe that the establishment of the mechanism was timely and instrumental in revitalizing the political process in Libya. We urge all relevant parties to fully support its work of producing technically sound and politically viable proposals on key contentious issues in the electoral framework that have hampered the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections. We sincerely hope that the recommendations to be presented by the Committee, building on the political frameworks and laws agreed by the Libyan political actors, will herald a pragmatic step forward for the subsequent phases of the political process. We also hope that those efforts lead to a genuine intra-Libyan dialogue and a unified national vision for the future, including through the conclusion of the constitution-making process. Secondly, all stakeholders in Libya should refrain from unilateral actions that deepen institutional division. They should instead make continued efforts to unify national institutions, supported by UNSMIL’s crucial assistance. In that connection, we welcome the establishment last month of a joint centre for border security, composed of military and security institutions from both the west and the east of the country. That coordination mechanism between the two sides is expected to contribute to countering illegal immigration and terrorism in the border areas. Continued efforts to unify military institutions will be essential for strengthening Libya’s security and preserving its territorial integrity. On a related note, we stress the importance of adopting a national unified budget as soon as possible, in order to strengthen fiscal responsibility, optimize resource allocation and ensure economic stability in Libya. Thirdly, we call upon all Member States to abide by Security Council sanctions, especially the arms embargo, in order to foster stability in Libya and beyond. We are particularly concerned about the growing influence of Libyan armed groups, which are actively engaging in illegal arms flows in Libya and beyond, petroleum smuggling and the exploitation of migrants and asylum seekers for economic gain, leading to significant human rights violations. At the same time, competitions and clashes between the various armed actors over territorial control and access to resources, particularly around the oil-rich regions, continue to threaten stability in Libya. We call upon foreign Powers to stop providing arms to Libya, in violation of the arms embargo, to further their narrow geopolitical interests, as those illegal arms further destabilize not only Libya, but also the broader region, by bolstering terrorism and endangering civilians. Achieving a lasting political settlement in Libya is critical not only for the Libyan people, but also for the entire region. I once again appeal to all Libyan actors to come together and faithfully discuss concrete ways to end the political deadlock. To that end, the international community, particularly the Security Council, should be united in supporting the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process.

We express our appreciation to Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo for her briefing. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of Libya to this meeting. We believe that we can and should build upon those developments. That is why we view the establishment earlier this month of an Advisory Committee as a very positive step and an opportunity to move Libya closer to stability and to long-overdue national elections. We encourage the Committee to address substantive issues as soon as possible. We once again call on all Libyan stakeholders to engage constructively with UNSMIL and its leadership in the multitrack political initiative that was presented to the Council in December. Good-faith engagement and demonstrating compromise will be essential in overcoming all outstanding contentious issues, including on the electoral framework. We continue to believe that that process should be inclusive, involving Libyans from all walks of life, and in particular, we stress the importance of women having full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and the need to engage Libyan youth. The shocking discovery earlier this month of two mass graves in Libya containing the bodies of dozens of migrants is a tragic reminder of the scale and scope of the challenges facing the country. There should be a full investigation into those horrific crimes. We acknowledge the efforts of the Libyan authorities in undertaking the operation to rescue migrants from traffickers. We call on all stakeholders to strengthen regional cooperation to safeguard and protect migrants and to ensure that those responsible for their exploitation and abuse are brought to justice. We believe that we do have an opportunity to finally bring an end to Libya’s transition phase, through an inclusive democratic process and with the United Nations playing a central role. That is, in our view, the surest way to ensure peace, prosperity and security for the benefit of not just the few, but of all in Libya.

I thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, for her briefing. I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Libya in this meeting. First of all, France congratulates Ms. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh on her appointment as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya. We assure her of our full support in fulfilling her mandate. The relaunch of a political process, led by and for Libyans with the support of the United Nations, is essential for Libya to regain its unity, stability and sovereignty. There is an urgent need to form a new unified Government that is capable of organizing presidential and legislative elections as soon as possible, in accordance with Security Council resolutions and the demand of the Libyan people. The celebrations of the fourteenth anniversary of the revolution of 17 February 2011 reminded us once again of the Libyan people’s aspiration for a better future. In that context, the formation, under the auspices of the United Nations Support In terms of security, it is urgent to carry out the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign combatants and mercenaries from Libyan territory, in accordance with the withdrawal plan endorsed by the United Nations in 2021. We must also continue efforts towards the reunification of Libyan military and security institutions. That reunification is essential to guarantee Libya’s sovereignty and put an end to the growing influence of militias on Libyan institutions. We condemn the recent assassination attempt on the Libyan Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. With regard to economic matters, we call for transparency, improved governance of financial institutions and accountability. Libya’s money must benefit Libyans. The formation of a unified Government goes hand in hand with the adoption of a unified budget. Finally, France is concerned about the numerous human rights violations in Libya, including arbitrary arrests and detentions and forced disappearances. The recent discovery of mass graves is alarming. France underscores the urgent need to combat human trafficking in Libya and to protect human rights, in particular the rights of migrants. We support UNSMIL’s call for a thorough investigation and stress the need to combat impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious crimes.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of China. I would like to share three points. First, advancing the political process is a priority. A new round of local elections is being held in 63 municipalities in Libya, and some factions have signed the peace and national reconciliation charter. Those developments deserve to be welcomed and recognized. In the near future, the parties in Libya need to accelerate progress in such key areas as holding peaceful national elections, establishing unified State institutions and achieving national reconciliation, putting aside differences and enhancing trust to pave the way for lasting stability in the country. In that process, the international community must respect the leadership of the Libyan people and avoid undue external interference. China notes that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) recently set up an Advisory Committee regarding Libya’s national elections and hopes that UNSMIL will strengthen communication with the parties in Libya and put forward practical proposals on promoting elections and resolving contentious issues. We welcome Ms. Hanna Tetteh’s appointment as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and hope that she will further promote the political process. Secondly, improving the security situation is still an imperative. The overall security situation in Libya remains fragile. China welcomes the first meeting this year of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission in Cairo and calls on the parties to uphold the hard-won ceasefire and refrain from unilateral actions that could lead to escalation. UNSMIL should support the monitoring of the ceasefire and the unification of military and security institutions pursuant to its mandate. The recent discovery of suspected mass graves of migrants in Libya underscores the existence of still rampant illegal migration and human trafficking there. China calls on the international community and the countries of the region to strengthen cooperation with Libya in order to curb the increase in crime. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Libya.

At the outset, we would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council this month. We take this opportunity to welcome the incoming members of the Council, namely Somalia, Pakistan, Greece, Denmark and Panama. I wish all of them every success. I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I also welcome the appointment of Ms. Hanna Tetteh as the new Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya. Fourteen years have passed since Libya was placed under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. As Libyans woke up dreaming of a future of justice and freedom and a State with the rule of law and institutions, they also dreamt of a democratic path and a permanent constitution through which they would resort to ballot boxes to choose who represents them. Unfortunately, since the very first day, those dreams were clouded by many challenges and crises. Foremost among them were foreign interventions — direct or indirect — in Libyan affairs. My country was used as a regional arena for the settling of scores and for proxy wars. Ms. Tetteh’s appointment is the tenth such appointment as an envoy or representative of the Secretary-General for Libya over the past 14 years. That, in itself, is a record number that merits the Council’s attention. Perhaps we should think about that and ask ourselves whether the problem was with the envoys or with the working mechanism of the United Nations. Or perhaps the problem was related to interventions and the imposition of external solutions and agendas. Those are all questions for the Council and the Special Representative to consider in order to do justice by the Libyans. We must stop blaming them for the current situation, help them overcome this crisis and promote their will, leadership and ownership of the solution. We hope that we can work with Ms. Tetteh, and we hope that she will harness the lessons of the past and not repeat its mistakes trying the same approaches and expecting different results. We call on her to complete what has been previously reached and to build upon it in order to support a clear political path linked to the completion of the political agreements reached, whether the Libyan Political Agreement of Skhirat or the ceasefire agreement signed in Geneva. We also must encourage Libyan initiatives that take into account political balance and representation, without excluding anyone, so as to ensure that all stakeholders can commit to agreed outcomes until the holding of the general elections that everybody is hoping for. We have seen the experience of the recently held municipal elections around the country. They were a good example of Libya’s ability to hold electoral processes if support and political will are available. Turning to the Advisory Committee that was recently announced by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), we underscore the importance of the involvement of Libyans in that initiative. We are not questioning the members of We hope that UNSMIL and the United Nations will be able to answer the questions that are being raised by many, to which we are still awaiting the answers. I believe that even the members of the Committee are waiting for answers. What do we expect of the Advisory Committee? What is the road map? What is the expected timeline for the political process? Those are questions that we have heard today from various speakers in the Chamber. What is the Advisory Committee’s role? Are we expecting it to put forward a single proposal or many different proposals, and how will political stakeholders be contributing to that process? Those are important questions that need answers so that Libyans can understand where those initiatives and processes are heading, particularly in the light of the crisis of trust that we have seen over the past few years. How will those initiatives enable us to find the desired consensus to guide the country to general elections and end the state of stagnation and all previous transitional phases? Those are important issues, as I have said. To put it succinctly, we would like a clear road map in terms of the time frame and the expected outcomes, all of which should lead to elections. Efforts to unify the military and the security institutions must be stepped up. It is also necessary to support the meetings of the Joint Military Commission and to do more to end all formats of foreign interference on Libyan soil, regardless of their designations. The purpose of the unification of the military and security institutions is for the State to monopolize arms. Such measures would undoubtedly contribute to combating terrorism, organized crime and ending human trafficking, as well as addressing the challenges and violations against migrants, strengthening border controls and safeguarding the integrity of the country against foreign interference. The recent discovery of mass graves of migrants is tragic. However, it is also an indication that absent a swift and comprehensive political solution, such abuses and violations will, unfortunately, occur. When speaking about issues of that kind in Libya and illegal migration, in particular, I ask the Council to also mention the countries and international networks that contribute to this tragedy. Nothing is being said in that regard, however, nor are genuine efforts being made, in Africa or in Europe, to hold to account those internationally parties responsible — be they countries of origin, networks or countries of migration. Turning now to sanctions, we would like to thank China for chairing the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011), concerning Libya, in the absence of a Chair since the end of Japan’s term. Without a doubt, that void is adversely affecting the issue, and it is our hope that a Chair will soon be appointed. We also wish to reiterate our frequently repeated request for certain individuals who have been listed since 2011 to be removed from the list — either for humanitarian reasons or because they should not have been listed in the first place or because the issue has been used to increase political tensions. We also note resolution 2769 (2025), which, after all these years, has given the Libyan Investment Authority the right to invest and manage frozen assets and funds, to preserve or unfreeze them. For all of those who doubt or deliberately cause confusion with their discordant voices, we repeat here, as is clear in the recently adopted resolution 2769 (2025). During this period, we never requested to lift the freeze on those assets and funds in order to protect the wealth of Libyans from We underline the importance of national reconciliation, which is a pillar of peace, security and stability in Libya. We appreciate the role of the African Union in that regard and the visits involving various Libyan stakeholders. We have also recently seen efforts being made in Addis Ababa. At the same time, we would like to underscore that any reconciliation must be grounded in transitional justice, accountability, truth, redress and reparations — principles that must apply to all, at all times. What is needed is a comprehensive and inclusive national reconciliation, not a narrow political one. Accordingly, we call on the various stakeholders — the African Union, the Parliament, the Presidential Council and the various committees and commissions — to build on what has thus far been agreed and to come together to bring the process to a successful culmination commensurate with the stakeholders’ expectations and to listen to the concerns of the various parties. We trust that everyone will rally around the forthcoming dates and that the much-awaited national charter will finally be agreed. That charter that will underpin the other avenues, be they political, economic or security-based. In conclusion, the Council should be aware that Libya cannot be separated from the regional conflicts and the political and security-related changes, which are undoubtedly affecting the country directly — not least because the protagonists are precisely those who are interfering in our affairs. We would therefore propose cautious optimism. It is our hope that the agreements and recent meetings between the countries concerned will contribute to stability in Libya. Those countries have met recently to discuss the war in Ukraine, the aggression in Gaza and the situation in Syria, all of which affect the Libyan situation. We hope that those agreements and meetings will be conducive to ending the crisis in Libya and interference on Libyan soil.