Security Council Authorizes Nine-month Mandate Extension for United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2323 (2016)
The Security Council decided this morning to extend the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) by nine months, until 15 September 2017.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2323 (2016), the 15-member Council also decided that, in full accordance with the principle of national ownership, the integrated special political mission should exercise mediation and good offices functions to support implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement, consolidation of the Government of National Accord’s governance, security and economic arrangements, and subsequent phases of Libya’s transition process.
Further by that text, the Council decided that UNSMIL should undertake the following tasks: support key Libyan institutions; support, upon request, the provision of essential services and delivery of humanitarian assistance; monitor and report on human rights; support efforts to secure uncontrolled arms and to counter their proliferation; and coordination of international aid, including by providing advice and assistance for Government efforts to stabilize post-conflict zones, including those liberated from Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).
The Council encouraged UNSMIL to continue working towards a phased return to a permanent presence in Libya, as security conditions would allow, and to make the necessary security arrangements to that effect.
Following the vote, the Russian Federation’s representative reminded other Council members that, during consultations, he had been in favour of a six-month extension as the optimal time frame in view of weak developments in Libya and the unclear prospect of UNSMIL’s return to the country. However, some Council members had painted an unjustifiably optimistic picture of the situation, he added.
The United Kingdom’s representative, welcoming the resolution’s unanimous adoption as a strong signal of Council unity in support of Libya, said the mandate was vital a year after the signing of the Political Agreement. Some progress had been made in the fight against terrorism, with the completion of operations against Da’esh in Sirte, but Libya continued to face a daunting set of challenges, and it was crucial that the international community continue to speak with one voice, he emphasized.
The representative of the United States said that today’s vote should be sending an unambiguous message to the Libyan people that UNSMIL’s tireless work was recognized as necessary to support the Government of National Accord.
France’s representative hailed the unanimous vote, saying that, whatever the new positions might be, it illustrated the Council’s unity in support of the United Nations presence in Libya. Extending the mandate for nine months sent a sustainable message of support for UNSMIL, and the Council should consider a strategic review during the year.
Spain’s representative, Council President for December, spoke in his national capacity, describing the stalemate in Libya as a threat to the region. Urgent challenges included ensuring that financial institutions were functioning properly and unifying the armed forces under the executive. That was why Spain had supported the extension of UNSMIL’s mandate, he added.
The meeting began at 10:05 a.m. and ended at 10:15 a.m.
Resolution
The full text of resolution 2323 (2016) reads as follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its resolution 1970 (2011) and all its subsequent resolutions on Libya,
“Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya,
“Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) (S/2016/1011),
“Expressing its strong support for the ongoing efforts of UNSMIL and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to facilitate a Libyan-led political solution to the challenges facing Libya,
“Recalling resolution 2259 (2015) which endorses the Rome communiqué of 13 December 2015 to support the Government of National Accord (GNA) as the sole legitimate government of Libya, and welcoming the arrival in Tripoli on 30 March 2016 of members of the Presidency Council of the GNA, led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj,
“Reiterating its support for the full implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) of Skhirat, Morocco signed on 17 December 2015 to form a GNA consisting of the Presidency Council and Cabinet supported by the other institutions of state including the House of Representatives and State Council,
“Welcoming the endorsement in principle of the LPA by the House of Representatives on 25 January 2016 and the meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue on 10 March 2016 which reaffirmed its commitment to uphold the LPA, and further welcoming the statement by the Members of the Libyan Political Dialogue following their meeting in Malta on 11 November 2016,
“Emphasizing the importance of continued inclusiveness, strongly encouraging the GNA to engage with all parties in support of reconciliation and to enhance political outreach throughout Libya, and urging all parties and institutions in Libya to engage constructively with the LPA in good faith and with sustained political will,
“Urging the full, equal and effective participation of women in all activities relating to the democratic transition, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, and calling on the Libyan authorities to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict, including addressing impunity for sexual violence crimes in line with relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1325 (2000), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015),
“Fully supporting the Vienna communiqué of 16 May 2016 which urged all parties to work constructively towards the completion of the transitional institutional framework and welcomed the creation of the Presidential Guard by the Presidency Council, encouraging further progress towards establishing the Presidential Guard, and stressing that ensuring security and defending Libya from terrorism must be the task of unified and strengthened national security forces under the sole authority of the GNA in accordance with the LPA,
“Further recalling resolution 2259 (2015) which called on Member States to cease support to and official contact with parallel institutions claiming to be the legitimate authority, but which were outside the LPA, as specified by the Agreement,
“Encouraging the GNA to finalize interim security arrangements for stabilizing Libya as a critical step towards tackling Libya’s political, security, humanitarian, economic and institutional challenges and recognizing the need for the GNA to plan for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups in that regard, and encouraging the GNA to lead stabilization efforts in affected cities including in Sirte and Benghazi to combat the threat of terrorism,
“Expressing grave concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Libya,
“Welcoming the joint communiqué on Libya of 22 September 2016 by Algeria, Canada, Chad, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Niger, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, the United Nations, the League of Arab States and the African Union,
“Taking note of the joint communiqué of 25 October 2016 following the trilateral meeting of the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations at the headquarters of the League of Arab States on 25October 2016 to discuss the situation in Libya and the means to further cooperation between the three organizations in order to advance the political process and assist Libya in its democratic transition,
“Taking note of the London and Rome meetings on the economy on 31 October/1 November and 17 November 2016 and welcoming the commitment of the representatives of the Presidency Council, the Government of National Accord, the Central Bank of Libya, the Audit Bureau and the National Oil Corporation to alleviate urgently the suffering of the Libyan people by increasing oil production, improving cash flow and speeding up the delivery of public services,
“Reiterating its request that all Member States fully support the efforts of the SRSG and work with the Libyan authorities and UNSMIL to develop a coordinated package of support to build the capacity of the GNA, in line with Libyan priorities and in response to requests for assistance, and further reiterating its call upon all parties to cooperate fully with the activities of UNSMIL, including taking necessary steps to ensure the security and unhindered movement for the United Nations and associated personnel,
“Encouraging UNSMIL to continue to prioritize its tasks and mediation efforts in full consultation with the Presidency Council and other Libyan institutions and in response to its needs and the evolving situation in the country,
“Recalling its determination in 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 2017 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) implementation of the Libyan Political Agreement;
(ii) consolidation of the governance, security and economic arrangements of the Government of National Accord; and
(iii) subsequent phases of the Libyan transition process;
“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 and 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 stabilize post-conflict zones, including those liberated from Da’esh;
“3. Recognizes that since 30 March 2016 UNSMIL has facilitated a consistent presence in Libya to support the Presidency Council and Temporary Security Committee and encourages UNSMIL to continue working towards re‑establishing a permanent presence in Libya through a phased return, as security conditions allow and to make the necessary security arrangements to this effect;
“4. Looks forward to the outcome of Secretary-General’s Strategic Assessment Review in early 2017 and stands ready to review the mandate of the Mission as a result if needed;
“5. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report to the Security Council on the implementation of this resolution at least every 60 days;
“6. 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;
“7. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.”