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By Sami Zaptia.
London, 16 September 2019:
The internationally recognized Libyan government based in the capital Tripoli and led by Faiez Serraj welcomed on Friday Thursday’s decision by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to extend UNSMIL’s mandate in Libya until 2020.
The UNSC extension decision gave its full support to UNSMIL and its head Ghassan Salame to establish a ceasefire and to find a ‘‘Libyan-owned inclusive political process’’ and reiterated that there can be ‘‘no military solution in Libya’’.
It supported a DDR (disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration) process of militias, parliamentary, presidential (constitutional based) and municipal elections and the respect of their results.
It also supported the unification of Libya’s main state institutions, the sole guardianship of the National Oil Corporation under the Serraj Government of National Accord and the financial review of the Central Banks of Libya.
Most importantly, it called on its members to respect the UNSC arms embargo and not to support the Libyan conflict.
Here is the full text of the UNSC decision to extend UNSMIL’s mandate in Libya for another year:
Expressing its strong support for the ongoing efforts of UNSMIL and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ghassan Salamé, and underscoring the importance of the United Nations central role in facilitating a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned inclusive political process,
Calling on all parties to work together in the spirit of compromise, to refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process, to exercise restraint, to protect civilians and to engage seriously in national reconciliation, recalling that there can be no military solution in Libya, and reiterating calls for all parties to commit to a lasting ceasefire and political dialogue under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General,
Expresses grave concern over ongoing hostilities in and around Tripoli, and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, further expressing concern over the exploitation of the conflict by terrorist and violent extremist groups,
Urging the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in all activities relating to democratic transition, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and supporting the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to facilitate wider engagement and participation of women from across the spectrum of Libyan society in the political process and public institutions,
Recalling the commitment of the Libyan parties to work constructively with the UN to organise credible and peaceful parliamentary and Presidential elections and to respect the results of these elections, as agreed by the Libyan parties in Paris in May 2018, in Palermo in November 2018, and in Abu Dhabi in February 2019, welcoming the work of the High National Electoral Commission and the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections to prepare for and conduct national and municipal elections, further welcoming UNSMIL’s support for this work, and recognising the key role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in consulting with Libyan parties to set the constitutional basis for elections and to adopt the necessary electoral laws,
Reiterating its call on all Libyans to work constructively towards the unification of Libya’s military and economic institutions; establishing unified and strengthened national security forces under civilian government authority; and a unified Libyan Central Bank,
Recognising the need to plan for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups, and to establish an inclusive, civilian-led security architecture for Libya as a whole,
Welcoming the economic dialogue taking place in Libya and the region and UNSMIL’s role in support, calling on the Libyan authorities to improve liquidity and to address the economy of predation, such as the black market foreign exchange rate, recalling the request to UNSMIL and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General by Prime Minister Serraj, to support the facilitation of a financial review of economic and financial institutions, to support efforts of reunifying these institutions, emphasising the importance of collaboration with international financial institutions, and expressing concern at the interference by armed groups in Libya’s sovereign institutions,
Recalling that Libya’s oil resources are for the benefit of all Libyans and need to remain under the exclusive control of the National Oil Corporation, and that the Government of National Accord (GNA) retains sole oversight over Libya’s economic and financial institutions, with a responsibility to ensure the equitable distribution of resources across the whole country,
Recalling the need for Member States to cease support to and official contact with parallel institutions outside of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), as stipulated therein,
Expressing grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya, including deteriorating living standards and insufficient provision of basic services, and at the situation faced by migrants, refugees and internally displaced people, including their exposure to sexual and gender-based violence, and calling on the Libyan authorities to alleviate urgently the suffering of the Libyan people by speeding up the delivery of public services,
Urging all parties to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict, and calling on the Libyan authorities to end impunity for sexual and gender-based violence crimes in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 1325 (2000),
Reaffirming that all parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, and emphasising that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of human rights must be held accountable,
Calling on the Libyan authorities to take all steps necessary to investigate violations of international human rights law and reports of abuses of human rights, including torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and mistreatment in prisons and detention centres, and to hold those responsible to account,
Reiterating its concern at the smuggling of migrants and refugees and human trafficking through Libya, and welcoming the work of UNSMIL in coordinating and supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance for refugees and migrants,
Reiterating its request that all Member States support fully the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, calling on Member States to use their influence with the parties to bring about a ceasefire and inclusive political process, and further reiterating its call upon all parties to cooperate fully with the activities of UNSMIL, including taking all necessary steps to ensure the security and unhindered movement of United Nations and associated personnel,
Underscoring the importance of ensuring that existing sanctions measures are fully implemented and that violations are reported to the United Nations Sanctions Committee, and recalling in that regard that individuals or entities engaging in, or providing support for, acts that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya may be designated for targeted sanctions, pursuant to resolution 2441 (2018),
Calling for full compliance with the arms embargo by all Member States, in line with resolution 2441 (2018) and all of its previous resolutions on the embargo, and further calling on all Member States not to intervene in the conflict or take measures that exacerbate the conflict,
Recalling its determination in its resolution 2213 (2015) that the situation in Libya continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,
1. Decides to extend until 15 September 2020 the mandate of UNSMIL, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, as an integrated special political mission, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership to exercise mediation and good offices to support:
(i) an inclusive political process and security and economic dialogue;
(ii) continued implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement;
(iii) consolidation of the governance, security and economic arrangements of the Government of National Accord, including support for economic reform in collaboration with international financial institutions;
(iv) a possible ceasefire; and
(v) subsequent phases of the Libyan transition process, including the constitutional process and the organisation of elections;
2. Further decides that UNSMIL, within operational and security constraints, should undertake the following tasks:
(i) support to key Libyan institutions;
(ii) support, on request, for the provision of essential services and delivery of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with humanitarian principles;
(iii) human rights monitoring and reporting;
(iv) support for securing uncontrolled arms and related materiel and countering their proliferation; and
(v) co-ordination of international assistance, and provision of advice and assistance to GNA-led efforts to stabilise post-conflict zones, including those liberated from Da’esh;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to assess the steps required to reach a lasting ceasefire, the possible role of UNSMIL in providing scalable ceasefire support and the steps required to advance the political process from its current trajectory, and to include a report on progress towards these objectives in his regular reporting;
4. Recalls its decision that all Member States shall comply with the arms embargo, in line with resolution 2441 (2018) and all of its previous resolutions on the embargo, calls on all Member States not to intervene in the conflict or take measures that exacerbate the conflict, welcomes efforts by the Libya Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts to investigate violations of the arms embargo, and notes its intention to hold those who violate the arms embargo accountable through its Sanctions Committee;
5. Requests UNSMIL to take fully into account a gender perspective throughout its mandate and to assist the GNA in ensuring the full, effective and meaningful participation of women in the democratic transition, reconciliation efforts, the security sector and in national institutions, as well as the protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence, in line with resolution 1325 (2000);
6. Recognises that since 30 March 2016 UNSMIL has gradually established a consistent presence in Libya, and welcomes UNSMIL’s progress in re-establishing a presence in Tripoli, Benghazi and other parts of Libya, as security conditions allow;
7. Welcomes progress in, and encourages continued work towards, a comprehensive political strategy, as well as the greater integration and strategic co-ordination of UNSMIL and United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Libya to support GNA-led efforts towards the stabilisation of Libya;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution at least every 60 days;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to report as necessary following consultations with the Libyan authorities on recommendations for UNSMIL’s support to the subsequent phases of the Libyan transition process and UNSMIL’s security arrangements to ensure it remains agile and responsive to developments on the ground;
10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
UN Secretary General presents an overview to Security Council on Libya and UNSMIL activity
