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SECURITY COUNCIL
7832ND MEETING (AM)
SC/12622
13 DECEMBER 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.”