“The United States renews its call on Libyan political leaders to commit to participate in the UN-facilitated talks,” said Ambassador Robert Wood, U.S. Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs at the United Nations.
“We continue to believe that a political agreement is crucial to unlocking a viable process towards long-overdue elections, and we firmly support UNSMIL’s [United Nations Support Mission in Libya] efforts to find creative ways to get the main powerbrokers to the table.”
“We reiterate that those who continue to delay the process hold a heavy share of the blame as yet more time passes without the election of a legitimate, unified government,” stressed Ambassador Wood.
On the economic front, increasing instability, evidenced by the recent drop in the value of the Libyan dinar, continues to fuel the country’s deepening political divisions. To ensure the provision of essential services to the Libyan people and an equitable distribution of revenues, it is important that Libya produce a unified budget and take steps to stabilize the currency, said Ambassador Wood.
“Progress toward military unification is key to reaffirming Libyan sovereignty and preventing Libya from becoming enmeshed in regional conflict,” said Ambassador Wood.
“We are closely monitoring the situation in Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Mali – including the movement of foreign fighters and rampant arms trafficking – and its destabilizing implications for Libya.”
In February, the Security Council called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries from Libya, noted Ambassador Wood.
“We remain particularly concerned by the activities of the Russia-backed Wagner Group, a transnational criminal organization with no regard for Libya’s sovereignty or that of its neighbors. We extend that concern to efforts to consolidate Wagner personnel into Russia’s Africa Corps.”
Turning to sanctions, Ambassador Wood expressed concern about the increase in violations of the arms embargo and illicit oil export embargo, which has necessitated a greater number of interdictions by Operation IRINI, and EU naval effort to monitor and disrupt illicit activities off the coast of Libya.
“We encourage other Member States to support and inform efforts to implement the arms and oil embargoes,” said Ambassador Wood. “Violators are complicit in the deteriorating political, security, and humanitarian situation in Libya.”
The United States remains committed to using sanctions to deter threats to peace and stability in Libya.
