“We are not where we wanted to be in terms of progress on the roadmap” Said Hanna S. Tetteh, who also heads the United Nations Assistance Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) – a country that remains divided between two rival administrations.
“Some Libyan actors continue to ignore public expectations regarding their participation in political processes Exercising political leadership based on democratic legitimacy,” He said.
“Any continued inaction and delay in implementation of the Roadmap poses both national and regional risks and we believe It is important to recognize this now”
dialogue on serious issues
Ms Tetteh updates Ambassadors on Structured Dialogue – the Third Pillar roadmap Which he presented before the council in August 2025.
The discussions are focused on four critical issues – security, governance, economy, and national reconciliation and human rights – and are taking into account people from across the country.
He said that work on all four tracks has progressed towards concrete recommendations and it is expected that Structured talks will end by early June With a final report that will be presented to political leaders and the public.
“We envision that these recommendations can help shape a national approach and inform important policy reforms that are needed to strengthen national institutions and create the conditions for holding peaceful national elections,” he said.
UNSMIL continued its commitment to taking the Roadmap forward, including efforts to identify ways to overcome the current impasse, which it had reported on during its last statement to the Council two months ago.
“However, if substantial progress is not made, as previously indicated, I will return to this Council to present a proposal to take the process forward based on the provisions of existing political agreements,” she said.
Economic decline, poverty is increasing
Ms. Tetteh also addressed the rapidly deteriorating economic situation in Libya, which she described as “Currency pressure, rising prices, fuel shortages, uncontrolled and opaque public spending and rising poverty.”
These trends confirm that the current economic model and the practices that support it are no longer sustainable.
Furthermore, the UN expert panel’s recent findings “help explain the erosion of state capacity to govern through integrated, rules-based institutions,” he said.
“Libya’s national wealth is being absorbed into a distorted political economy that fuels unaccountable spending and weaponises oil revenues.“Ms Tetteh said.
“This diversion of resources without consensus on agreed national priorities undermines fiscal discipline and the State’s ability to act as a steward to implement projects, programs and initiatives that respond to important public priorities and social spending commitments.”
He strongly urged Libya to implement the Panel’s recommendations, particularly with regard to monitoring and revenue flows in the hydrocarbon sector.
security status
Ms. Tetteh said the security situation remained volatile, although no violations of the 2020 ceasefire were recorded.
He said local incidents, particularly in the southern border areas, underscore the need for progress toward integrating security and political institutions.
Meanwhile, the situation in northwest coastal communities “Instability persists between armed groups and criminal networks vying for control Occupying territory and creating space for illegal activities,” Clashes were recorded at four locations last month.
On human rights, he cited persistent reports of arbitrary detention, intimidation, and reprisals by security actors against alleged political opponents, human rights defenders, and public officials.
Council’s support ‘essential’
“Libya has reached a critical political, economic and security juncture. State institutions are divided, and not enough progress has been made toward holding national elections“Ms Tetteh said.
The UNSMIL Roadmap was conceived “to help overcome the country’s real divisions through negotiated governance arrangements leading to institutional reintegration.”
He told the Council that the Mission will continue to work towards achieving the objectives of the Roadmap “and once again your support of these efforts is not only important; it is essential.”
