Published on: 2026-08-18
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 18, 2026 Peace and Security
The UN Security Council convened on Tuesday for a meeting on the situation in Libya, where a prolonged political deadlock is obstructing the holding of long-scheduled elections. Meanwhile, the population is facing abnormal heat, power outages, and instability. It is reported that drone strikes last week caused a fire at a major oil refinery.
“It remains critically important to advance the political process in Libya,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Hanna Tetteh.
The current crisis began after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, when state institutions became fragmented, security structures divided, and the struggle for control over the wealthy oil economy became a constant source of tension.
Two administrations continue to compete in the country today. The elections, which were scheduled for December 2021, have been postponed indefinitely.
Problems in the field of public administration
Widespread power outages and growing public dissatisfaction, exacerbated by prolonged heat, have demonstrated the consequences of institutional fragmentation, the diversion of government resources to other purposes, insufficient investment, and uncoordinated decision-making, Tette said.
“That is precisely why the political process is more than just overcoming political disagreements,” she emphasized. “It is about restoring the state’s ability to meet the needs of its population.”
The “roadmap” presented to the UN Security Council a year ago outlines the path towards presidential and parliamentary elections, the conduct of an inclusive structured dialogue to address governance issues, and the reunification of executive institutions within a unified government.
The head of the MOONPL welcomed the elections of the new leadership bureau of the Supreme State Council held on July 29. At the same time, on August 9, the head of the Central Bank, in a letter to the House of Representatives and the Supreme State Council, requested to be relieved of his position.
“This step indicates growing pressure on the Central Bank,” Tette said. “It is important that all Libyan political figures and institutions fully carry out their duties.”
The security situation remains “unstable”
Speaking about security, the Special Representative described the situation along Libya’s western coast as “unstable” amid rivalries between armed groups involved in illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking, and fuel smuggling.
According to her, the drone attacks on the oil refinery and other infrastructure facilities in Zawia represent a “new and alarming” trend.
“These events also highlight the need to create professional, neutral, and unified security structures capable of effectively exercising their powers based on the rule of law,” Tette emphasized.
“People are losing trust in the state”
At the UN Security Council meeting, climate activist Nissa Beck also spoke. She drew attention to how political instability and the weakness of state institutions affect the daily lives of Libyans.
“For most people, the state is not the constitution, elections, or political agreement,” she said. According to Beck, it is important to the country’s residents whether the lights turn on, water comes from the tap, and the hospital operates.
She described the everyday reality of people who in the summer are left without electricity and water, stand in queues for fuel in a country that itself is an oil and gas producer, and watch prices rise while their incomes are devalued.
“When these systems fail again and again, people lose not only electricity or water,” Beck stated. “They lose trust in the state itself.”
According to her, extreme heat, water shortages, and environmental shocks today overlay political fragmentation, instability, and problems of state institutions.
“Such a combination of factors is a matter of peace and security,” the activist emphasized.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate representation of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.