What's In Blue

Posted Wed 16 Jul 2014

Briefing and Consultations on Critical Security Situation in Libya

Tomorrow morning (17 July), the Security Council is scheduled to receive a public briefing by Tarek Mitri, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), via video teleconference, which will be followed by consultations. Even though resolution 2144 requests the Secretariat to brief on UNSMIL’s mandate every 90 days, during the last consultations on 9 June some Council members requested more frequent meetings, given the worsening security and political situation in Libya. The foreign minister of Libya, Mohammed Abdelaziz, is also expected to participate.

It took the Council three weeks to react to the deteriorating situation in Libya since 16 May and so far, it has not issued any statement on the situation. Finally on 14 July, the UK circulated a draft press statement condemning the recent violence in Libya, including the fighting around Tripoli International Airport. However, Russia broke silence requesting additional language on the unabated violence over the last three years and the delay in the announcement of the final results of the elections. It seems that it also wanted to take note of the reduction in UNSMIL staff as a result of the violence. Yesterday, there were bilateral negotiations on the draft press statement and at press time it was unclear if an agreement could be reached in time to issue the statement after tomorrow’s meeting.

Mitri is expected to provide an update on the critical security situation in Libya. In the last few days, fighting among rival militias for control of the airport in Trioli has resulted in at least 30 people killed, extensive damage to airport facilities and planes and the suspension of all flights to and from the airport. The fighting has involved Zintan-based militias that supported rogue general Khalifa Haftar in his 16 May coup attempt and Misrata-based Islamist militias. According to press reports all of these militias draw salaries from the government. (In the absence of a functioning, organised and well-equipped army, these militas are being funded by the government to provide security throughout the country.)

Council members are also likely to be interested in discussing the political landscape after the 25 June parliamentary election. Once the Supreme Court ruled on 9 June that Abdullah al-Thinni was the legitimate Prime Minister, it was hoped that the election would break the stalemate in the highly divided General National Congress and allow for progress in the transition process. However, turnout was very low and some seats are expected to remain unfilled given security challenges and boycotts. The final results for the elections are expected to be announced on 20 July, although it seems Islamists will incur significant losses. Council members are likely to inquire about the work of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly and the impact of the current violence on the constitutional process. Furthermore, Council members are likely to ask Mitri about his efforts to implement his good offices mandate. (A dialogue initiative by UNSMIL that was planned for 18-19 June was postponed indefinitely in light of objections by various parties.) Finally, some Council members are likely to ask for more information regarding the role of the special envoys appointed by international actors—namely France, Italy, Spain, the UK, the US, the AU, the EU and the League of Arab States—and if their engagement is being coordinated.

Council members are expected to be interested in getting a better understanding from Abdelaziz of what sort of assistance the Libyan government may be lookinhg for from the international community. There have been recent reports that the government may request international troops to be sent to Libya.

During the consultations, Council members are expected to want to know how UNSMIL will implement its mandate given last week’s temporary withdrawal of part of its staff due to concerns for their safety and security. (Even though the Council authorised the deployment of a UN guard unit in November 2013 to protect UNSMIL personnel and facilities, the unit was never deployed following concerns expressed by Libya and the withdrawal of Jordan, the potential troop contributor for the guard unit. The UN did not pursue other troop contributors and instead decided to strengthen UNSMIL’s security section.)

Council members are also expected to focus on the danger terrorism poses for Libya and the region, as well as to show concern about press reports of foreign fighters going from Syria to fight in Libya. Even though affiliation of some groups and militias with terrorism might be unclear, the last report of the Monitoring Team of the 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee stated that repeated attacks on international diplomats in Benghazi and Tripoli demonstrated the presence of Al-Qaida and its affiliates in Libya (S/2014/41).

Finally, there is the possibility that some Council members will ask about the 16 June abduction by the US of Ahmed Abu Khattala, indicted by a US federal court for the 11 September 2012 attacks on the US consulate in Benghazi. On 17 June, Ambassador Samantha Power (US) sent a letter to the President of the Council stating that the US had acted in accordance with its “inherent right of self-defense” under Article 51 of the UN Charter (S/2014/417). (The trial against Abu Khattala started on 28 June in the US District Court in Washington DC)

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