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United Nations

Libya Faces Imminent Risks to National Unity and Territorial Integrity

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Libya's deteriorating situation on the ground has raised alarm bells among international leaders, with UN officials warning of imminent risks to national unity and territorial integrity. The country's political leaders have made significant progress in injecting hope for an end to the crisis and armed conflict, but the onus remains on them to outline a road map for achieving those goals. The ability of a national unity Government to deliver notable change depends on international efforts to articulate a strategy for technical assistance delivery and support for State efforts to combat terrorism.

Key Takeaways:

  • The overall situation on the ground in Libya is deteriorating rapidly, with terrorist groups such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) operating with impunity.
  • The Libyan army is waging a war against terrorist organizations, but the country's international partners have yet to provide sufficient support to lift the arms embargo or grant exemptions.
  • The UN's Special Representative in Libya, Bernardino Leon, has reported that the country's leaders have made progress in negotiating a national unity government, but the talks have been hampered by the fluid security situation and reckless attacks by armed groups.
  • The Libyan Sanctions Committee has reported widespread violations of the arms embargo, including the diversion of military materiel to armed groups and the presence of terrorist-related security challenges in neighboring countries.
  • The Committee has recommended that six of the Panel's 18 recommendations be followed up, including measures to improve the implementation of the arms embargo and asset freeze.
  • The Libyan Ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim O.A. Dabbashi, has called for the international community to lift the arms embargo or grant exemptions to allow the Libyan army to obtain necessary weapons to combat terrorist organizations.

Statistics:

  • 44 people were killed in a car bomb attack in al-Qubba on February 20, marking the highest number of fatalities in a single terrorist act in Libya.
  • The Sanctions Committee has identified six countries with pending requests for designation of transport vessels used to export oil from Libya.
  • The Committee has received reports of 18 violations of the arms embargo, including the diversion of military materiel to armed groups.
  • The Panel of Experts has found that large amounts of assets are likely being held outside Libya under false names and by "front" companies.

Sources:

  • United Nations Security Council (2015)
  • Bernardino Leon, UN's Special Representative in Libya (2015)
  • Hussein Haniff, Chair of the Committee established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1973 (2011) (2015)
  • Ibrahim O.A. Dabbashi, Libyan Ambassador to the UN (2015)
  • United Nations Sanctions Committee (2015)

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