Libya

Representatives of Libya's rival eastern and western legislative bodies, in talks facilitated by the United Nations, signed an agreement on Thursday to end a crisis over leadership of the central bank, nominating an interim governor and deputy. The agreement could help to defuse a crisis over control of the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) and oil revenues that has sharply reduced Libya's oil output and exports.

In agreement with the delegates of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State on one hand and the representative of the Presidential Council on the other, UNSMIL will resume facilitating talks on resolving the crisis of the Central Bank of Libya at its headquarters in Tripoli on Wednesday (11 September.)

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya said it held talks in Tripoli on Monday to help resolve a central bank crisis that sparked a blockade of oil production and threatens the worst crisis in years for the major energy exporter.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued a statement late on Monday expressing deep concern "over the deteriorating situation in Libya resulting from unilateral decisions." Disputes over control of Libya's Central Bank have raised alarms about the potential misuse of the country's financial resources.

Recent “unilateral acts” by rival sides in Libya have led to a rapid deterioration in political and economic stability coupled with rising insecurity, a senior UN official in the country told the Security Council on Tuesday. 

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has expressed concerns over what it called the recent unilateral acts by Libyan political actors and institutions, in the East, West and South. 

The political complexities of Libya’s oil industry were highlighted at the weekend when allies of the warlord Khalifa Haftar were said to have tried to shut down a Spanish-operated oilfield in reprisal for an arrest warrant issued by Spain for his son over alleged weapons smuggling.

The U.N.’s chief human rights official accuses Libya’s political leaders of crushing political dissent to cling to power, leaving the country divided and its people mired in crisis, poverty, and misery. In a report submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council Tuesday, Volker Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, presented a stinging rebuke of the methods employed by Libya’s governing elite to eviscerate its political opponents and remain in charge.

The Council appointed Rear Admiral Valentino Rinaldi as EU Operation Commander for the European Union military operation in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI). He will take command from Rear Admiral Stefano Turchetto on 19 July.

Libyans overwhelmingly desire a political consensus so that credible national elections can be held that will restore legitimacy to national institutions, the deputy head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL) said on Wednesday. Briefing ambassadors at the UN Security Council, Stephanie Koury added that many Libyans have deep concerns, which she shares, about the de facto division of the country.