Statement delivered by His Excellency Amar Bendjama, Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at the United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya

Thank you, Mr. President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and my own country, Algeria.

We thank SRSG and Head of UNSMIL, Hanna Tetteh, for her insightful briefing. We reaffirm our full support for her noble duties in the service of the Libyan people.

We also welcome the participation of the distinguished representative of Libya in this meeting.

Mr. President,

Libya is at a critical crossroads in its history. A moment that demands urgent and decisive engagement from both domestic and international actors.

On the political front, the A3+ commends the completion of the second phase of municipal elections and looks forward to holding elections in the remaining municipalities.

These positive political developments mark another milestone in the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, and a step toward holding free and fair national elections that reflect the will of the Libyan people.

In this regard, we call on Libyan stakeholders to engage with UNSMIL to resolve the contentious issues related to electoral laws, with a view to generating practical solutions that break the ongoing political stalemate in the country.

We note that UNSMIL has already facilitated five sessions of the Advisory Committee since its establishment and we look forward to technically sound and politically viable recommendations for addressing the complex issues that surround the holding of national elections.

On the security front, the A3+ expresses concern over recent clashes and incidents in various Libyan cities. We urge all parties to fully respect and uphold the 2020 ceasefire agreement, and to prioritize the reunification of Libya’s security and military institutions as a matter of urgency.

Mr. President,

External interference, especially foreign military presence in Libya, represents a significant obstacle on the path to peace. The A3+ - Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Algeria demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Libya of all foreign forces, all foreign fighters, and all mercenaries.

Libya’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity must be fully respected.

We also encourage SRSG Tetteh to continue her engagements with neighboring countries, and to support the efforts of the African Union. These efforts culminated in the signing of the Peace and National Reconciliation Charter by Libyan stakeholders, last February, in Addis Ababa.

Mr. President,

The economic situation in Libya remains a significant concern for the A3+. The continuing absence of a unified budget, coupled with a lack of transparency and accountability, has only exacerbated the economic crisis.

We call upon UNSMIL to provide, where possible, technical and capacity-building assistance to help address these serious challenges that Libya is confronting.

Regarding the sanctions regime, the A3+ remains seized of continued violations of the arms embargo, illicit export of fuel, and erosion of frozen Libyan assets due to mismanagement by some international financial institutions.

We underscore the need for the next Panel of Experts on Libya to operate with the highest standards of competence and impartiality, and to report to the committee on cases of non-compliance.

We also emphasize the Sanctions Regime Committee’s responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability, and to prevent any violations of the sanctions regime or misuse of Libyan frozen assets. The Libyan people should benefit from these frozen assets at a later stage.

Mr. President,

Libya drifts further into uncertainty with each passing day without tangible progress in the political landscape.

This Council’s long-standing promise of peace and democracy, made over two decades ago, remains an unfulfilled aspiration and a delayed deliverance for millions of Libyans.

This situation is the result of past hasty decisions and miscalculations made by this very body in 2011.

We, therefore, urge the Security Council to assume its historical responsibilities by standing with Libya and empowering its people to shape the brighter future they truly deserve and the time for action is now!

I thank you.