New York | January 24, 2022 – The Security Council convened today to discuss the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). This report was presented by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo. The Council was also acquainted with the report of the Chairman of the Committee set up pursuant to UNSCR 1970 on Libya, and welcomed the address of Ms. Elham Saudi, Director of the Libyan Justice Lawyers Organization, and civil society representative.
The meeting focused on the postponed presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya and the need to hold them in a timely manner, the security situation in the country and the implementation of the October 2020 ceasefire, the need to withdraw foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries, as well as the human rights situation in Libya. The Council also discussed the renewal of the UNSMIL mandate, which expires at the end of January 2022, and the need for its strategic review.
In his remarks, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the UN Ambassador Ferit Hoxha pointed out that the Libyan people deserve free, fair elections as necessary steps to build a united, sovereign, and prosperous Libya. He also highlighted the human rights situation in Libya, which is affecting children, women, migrants and refugees, and called for accountability as an indispensable and unavoidable aspect to build the future.
The meeting was also attended by the Permanent Representative of Libya to the UN, who offered his country’s perspective on the latest developments in Libya.
