United Nations Security Council Resolution 2570 – The situation in LibyaLetter from the President of the Council on the voting outcome (S/2021/373) and voting details (S/2021/381)

Resolution 2570 (2021)

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolution 1970 (2011) and all its subsequent resolutions on Libya, including resolutions 2259 (2015), 2510 (2020) and 2542 (2020) and the statements of its President,

Reaffirming its commitment to the UN-facilitated Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process and to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya,

Welcoming the agreement to hold national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021 as set out in the roadmap of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in Tunis in November 2020 and noting that the constitutional basis for elections and the relevant election law, should be in place by 1 July 2021 in order to allow the High National Elections Commission adequate time to prepare for elections according to the prescribed timeline,

Welcoming the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement (S/2020/1043),

Recalling the commitment of the participants of the Berlin Conference to refrain from interference in the armed conflict or in the internal affairs of Libya and their call on international actors to do the same,

Recognising the important role of neighbouring countries and regional organisations in support of the United Nations and expressing concern over the impact of the conflict on neighbouring countries including with regards to threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation and misuse of weapons and the flow of armed groups and mercenaries,

Expressing grave concern over the exploitation of situation in Libya by terrorist and violent groups, and reaffirming the need to combat, in accordance with international law including the Charter of the United Nations, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts,

Recalling resolutions 2532 (2020) and 2565 (2021), and expressing grave concern with regards to the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Libya,

Reiterating its grave concern at the smuggling of migrants and refugees and human trafficking through Libya, and welcoming the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in coordinating and supporting the provision of humanitarian assistance for refugees and migrants,

Recognising the need to protect women, including those participating in public spaces, from threats and reprisals, underlining the need for the effective deployment of women and child protection advisers as part of UNSMIL as requested in resolution 2542 (2020) and recalling its request that UNSMIL take fully into account a gender perspective when implementing its mandate,

Recalling its determination in its resolution 2213 (2015) that the situation in Libya continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

1. Welcomes the interim Presidency Council and the interim Government of National Unity as the Government of Libya charged with leading the country up to national elections on 24 December 2021, as set out in the LPDF roadmap;

2. Calls on the interim Government of National Unity to make the necessary preparations for free, fair and inclusive national Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021 as set out in the LPDF roadmap, including arrangements to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and the inclusion of youth and to provide prompt funding for the High National Elections Commission;

3. Recalls that free, fair and credible elections will allow the Libyan people to elect a representative and unified government and reinforce the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya;

4. Calls on the relevant authorities and institutions, including the House of Representatives, to take the actions set out in the LPDF roadmap to facilitate the 24 December 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, including to clarify the constitutional basis for elections and the enactment of legislation, as necessary, by 1 July 2021 in order to allow the High National Elections Commission adequate time to prepare for elections according to the prescribed timeline and further calls on the LPDF to take steps to facilitate the elections if necessary;

5. Underlines the importance of an inclusive, comprehensive national reconciliation process, welcomes the support of regional organisations in this regard, and underlines the importance of the implementation of confidence-building measures to create an environment conducive for successful national elections;

6. Recalls resolution 2542 (2020) and UNSMIL’s role to provide support to the Libyan transition process, including the organisation of elections, and underscores UNSMIL’s role in supporting the upcoming elections on 24 December 2021;

7. Calls on the interim Government of National Unity to improve the delivery of basic services to the Libyan people, to combat corruption, to protect human rights and to ensure the transparent and equitable management of resources as set out in the LPDF roadmap;

8. Underlines the importance of the unification of Libya’s institutions; good governance and improved economic performance, including through agreement on a unified budget; and the swift agreement on sovereign positions, as set out in the LPDF roadmap;

9. Reaffirms its intention to ensure that assets frozen pursuant to paragraph 17 of resolution 1970 (2011) shall at a later stage be made available to and for the benefit of the Libyan people;

10. Underlines the need to plan for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of armed groups and all relevant non-state armed actors, security sector reform and the establishment of an inclusive, accountable, civilian-led security architecture for Libya as a whole;

11. Emphasises that those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and violations and abuses of international human rights law must be held accountable;

12. Calls on all Libyan parties to ensure full implementation of the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement and strongly urges all Member States to respect and support the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay;

13. Recalls its decision that all Member States shall comply with the arms embargo, demands full compliance including by all Member States with the arms embargo imposed under resolution 1970 (2011), as modified by subsequent resolutions, including by ceasing all support for and withdrawing all armed mercenary personnel and demands all Member States not to intervene in the conflict or take measures that exacerbate the conflict;

14. Recalls its decision that individuals or entities engaging in, or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya or that obstruct or undermine the successful completion of its political transition, may be designated by the Committee established pursuant to paragraph 24 of resolution 1970 (2011) for the travel ban and asset freeze measures specified in resolution 1970 (2011), as modified by subsequent resolutions, and stresses that the Committee shall consider the designation of individuals or entities who breach the arms embargo; violate the ceasefire or obstruct the successful completion of Libya’s political transition;

15. Recalls its resolution 2542 (2020) and its decision that UNSMIL should help to achieve a ceasefire and provide appropriate support to its implementation;

16. Takes note of the progress report of the Secretary-General on the proposed ceasefire monitoring arrangements in Libya (S/2021/281), approves the proposals of the Secretary-General on the composition and operational aspects of the ceasefire monitoring component as set out in his letter of 7 April and, with the aim of implementing the 23 October 2020 ceasefire agreement in full, requests that UNSMIL should provide support to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism (LCMM) including through the facilitation of confidence-building measures and the scalable and incremental deployment of UNSMIL ceasefire monitors once conditions allow;

17. Underlines the importance of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission further developing their plans for the LCMM including on the composition and responsibilities of the sub-committees including women’s meaningful participation; the timeline, size and geographical deployment of the UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component; clear milestones; the expected end state and security arrangements to secure the UNSMIL ceasefire monitors;

18. Notes that Member States and regional organisations are able to provide support to the LCMM through the United Nations including through the provision of individual monitors under the auspices of UNSMIL as well as in-kind or financial resources with regard to a list of needed equipment, as agreed by the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and looks forward to the appropriate provision of such support from Member States and regional organisations;

19. Further requests that the Secretary-General includes updates on UNSMIL’s support to the relevant Libyan authorities and institutions ahead of the upcoming elections, the implementation of the 23 October ceasefire agreement, the progress made by the LCMM, the deployment of UNSMIL ceasefire monitors in support, and criteria for their eventual departure, in his regular reporting and in any additional reports, as necessary;

20. Expresses its intention to review the progress towards the deployment of UNSMIL ceasefire monitors ahead of 15 September 2021, requests that the independent strategic review of UNSMIL should take into account the ceasefire monitoring component of the Mission and further requests the Secretary-General to consult the Council on any increase to the initial maximum number of ceasefire monitors as set out in his letter of 7 April;

21. Underlines that references in previous resolutions, including 2509 (2020), 2292 (2016), 2357 (2017), 2420 (2018), 2473 (2019) and 2526 (2020), to the Government of National Accord should be read as references to the Government of Libya and therefore shall apply to the Government of National Unity, as the interim Government of Libya, as applicable;

22. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council on 16 April 2021.