UN Security Council prepares to renew Libya mission mandate amid internal division

The UN Security Council is expected to vote on 14 October to extend the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), which is due to expire on 31 October. This action coincides with a regular briefing by the Special Representative and Head of the Mission, Hannah Tetteh, on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country.
The critical timing of this renewal, which occurs while the Libyan crisis persists, was highlighted by the Security Council Report. Deep division remains over the necessary legislation for national elections and the formation of a unified government to oversee the process—a failure that has persisted since the postponement of the 2021 elections.
Despite this national-level gridlock, the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) proceeded with efforts to hold municipal elections. The second round of these polls was organised across 26 municipalities last August, even after armed attacks targeted some HNEC offices in Zawiya, Zliten, and the Western Coast, leading to a postponement of voting in seven municipalities. A high turnout, estimated at 72%, reflected a strong desire among Libyans for democratic participation.
In her previous briefing to the Council on 21 August, Mission Head Tetteh presented a new vision for a solution: a 12 to 18-month roadmap aimed at reunifying institutions and holding elections. The plan rests on three main pillars: establishing an effective legal framework for elections, forming a new government to unify institutions, and initiating a dialogue covering governance, economy, security, and reconciliation. UNSMIL confirmed its intention to take proactive measures to counter any attempts at obstruction, noting that it would seek the Council’s support to ensure the process’s continuity.
Within the Security Council, there is a consensus on the vital role of the UN and the need to promote an inclusive, Libyan-led political process. However, positions on Tetteh’s new plan are varied; France, the UK, Greece, Denmark, and Panama announced strong support, describing the roadmap as balanced. Conversely, Russia conditioned its support on the approval of all active parties before proceeding with any timeline, cautioning against imposing external solutions. China, meanwhile, offered conditional backing subject to broad acceptance from the relevant Libyan factions.
According to diplomatic sources, the Council’s most likely course of action is to extend the mission’s mandate while retaining the tasks defined in Resolutions 2542 (2020) and 2570 (2021), potentially with minor technical amendments to reflect recent developments. Discussions also include possibly extending the reporting period for the mission from 60 to 120 days. The recommendations of the strategic review, which the Council requested last October under Resolution 2755, will also be a key factor in shaping the forthcoming renewal resolution.