Madar (Tripoli) - The UN Security Council voted in New York on Friday, October 30, 2026, to extend the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until the end of October 2027, the Libyan state news agency LANA reported.
Speaking after the session, the British representative said an additional year would strengthen the mission's ability to facilitate a Libyan-owned and Libyan-led political process towards lasting stability. He said the resolution urges Libyan parties to honour the commitments reached in political consultations, notably the outcomes of the small dialogue committee, in order to reach elections and avoid leaving issues pending.
The representative of the Democratic Republic of Congo, speaking for the African A3 group of Liberia, Somalia and the DRC, welcomed the extension, saying Libya was "at a crossroads" and that unifying national institutions, including the army and security services, was essential for free and fair elections.
He voiced concern over the flow of illicit weapons into Libya and called for the full withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries in line with the ceasefire and the recommendations of the 5+5 committee. He also raised concerns over continued violations of Libya's frozen assets abroad, which he said are held for the Libyan people alone.
Separately, the US embassy in Libya welcomed on X, as reported by LANA, the continued engagement between Libyan parties and UNSMIL towards consensus on a path to a unified executive, unified institutions and credible parliamentary and presidential elections.
