Libya – The Libyan Government has issued Statement No. (26) of 2025 regarding the briefing delivered by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General before the Security Council. The Government said it followed the briefing “closely,” and that it contained “grave misrepresentations and blatant interference in Libya’s internal affairs and its sovereign institutions,” asserting that the Special Representative “exceeded her mandated remit and adopted a biased narrative at odds with the facts,” a stance the Government “categorically rejects.”
Intervention in the Elections Commission and an Attempt to Impose Unlawful Mechanisms
The statement, received by Al-Marsad, said the UN mission “intervened directly and without justification in the affairs of the High National Elections Commission,” attempting to “impose mechanisms for forming its board in contravention of the applicable legislation and of the sovereignty and laws of state institutions.”
Claim of Inclusive Outreach “Baseless”
The Government added that “the Special Representative’s claim to have met with all Libyan parties has no basis in fact,” affirming that “there has been no communication with the Libyan Government in any form,” which it said reveals “a selective and tendentious approach to engaging Libyan stakeholders.”
Guardianship over Legislation and Encroachment on the House of Representatives’ Powers
According to the statement, the mission “appointed itself guardian over the constitutional and legal frameworks governing the electoral process,” overstepping “the prerogatives of the legislative authority, namely the House of Representatives,” an act it described as “a clear violation of Libya’s national sovereignty.”
Threat of an “Alternative Track” and an Affront to National Will
The Government stressed that the mission “brazenly hinted at pursuing an alternative track, urging the Security Council to bypass elected Libyan institutions should they not align with its plans,” calling this “an unacceptable threat and a serious affront to the national will.”
Interference in the Central Bank and Oversight Files
The statement said the mission “interfered in the affairs of the Central Bank of Libya and in financial and oversight matters unrelated to its mandate—areas that fall squarely within the remit of the board of directors and Libya’s oversight and judicial bodies,” describing this as “a flagrant overreach.”
Remarks on Security Arrangements and Sovereign Appointments
It further noted that the mission “pronounced on security arrangements and sovereign appointments within state institutions,” calling it “an unprecedented encroachment on the constitutional powers of national authorities, as though claiming supremacy over the Libyan state and its sovereignty.”
Labeling the Constitutional Judiciary “Duplicated”
The statement recorded that “the Special Representative went so far as to describe the work of the constitutional judiciary as ‘duplicated,’ ignoring the laws and legislation issued by the House of Representatives on this matter,” which it called “an unacceptable politicization of the mission’s role, which should be neutral and impartial.”
A Deviation from Mandate—and a Warning Against Persisting
While recalling that it had previously welcomed the roadmap proposed by the UN Secretary-General “when we believed it would unite Libyans and end the crisis,” the Government now affirms that “these practices represent a serious deviation from the mission’s mandate and an infringement on state sovereignty,” warning against “persisting in this unacceptable, provocative course that inserts the mission between Libyans and the UN arena.”
Mutual Respect and Legal Mandates
The statement underscored that “Libya’s respect for international organizations is based on parity, mutual respect, and adherence to legal mandates—not on expansive, arbitrary interpretations or flawed practices that grant any international entity a license to interfere in Libya’s domestic affairs.” It also expressed “astonishment at the mission’s continued transgressions and its drift away from its assigned tasks in a manner that runs counter to Libya’s national interest.”
Political, Diplomatic, and Legal Steps to Protect Sovereignty
The Libyan Government affirmed its “full commitment to taking the necessary political, diplomatic, and legal measures to protect Libya’s sovereignty and its constitutional institutions from any attempt to impose unlawful external guardianship or oversight.”
Support for Restructuring the Mission and Expanding Presence in the East and South
The Government announced its full support for UN Secretary-General António Guterres “in his call to restructure the UN Support Mission in Libya—whether by changing its personnel or rebalancing its geographic footprint,” allowing for a “limited expansion in Benghazi and Sabha.” It affirmed that “the mission’s continued presence in the east and south is essential to ensure fair and comprehensive representation of all Libyan regions and to restore confidence in the UN role on professional, impartial foundations that respect Libya’s national sovereignty.”
The Mission Is Part of the Crisis, Not the Solution
The Government concluded that this call “confirms what it has repeatedly stated: the mission’s current work has veered from its core tasks and has become part of the crisis rather than a factor in resolving it—through its persistent disregard for the legitimacy of institutions elected by the House of Representatives and its deliberate marginalization of Benghazi and the eastern and southern regions.”
