In mid-April, the UN Security Council will consider extending two mandates related to the situation in Libya, including the extension of measures regarding the illicit export of oil, as well as the extension of the mandate of the Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts, amid ongoing political division and the deterioration of economic and security conditions in the country, according to the website “Security Council Report,” which specializes in analyzing the work of the UN Security Council.

According to the report, the Council is expected to renew this month the measures contained in Resolution 2146, issued in 2014, which allows member states to inspect ships suspected of involvement in the illegal export of Libyan oil, as well as to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the Sanctions Committee on Libya established in 1970.

Under Resolution 2769, issued on January 16, 2025, the Council renewed the mandate for oil-related measures until May 1, 2026, and extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts until May 15, with these measures to be reviewed by April 15, according to the Security Council Report.

Upcoming Briefing by the UN Envoy

The Council is expected to hold its regular session on Libya, during which the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, will provide a briefing on the latest political, security, and humanitarian developments in the country.

This move comes amid ongoing political division between the Government of National Unity led by Abdulhamid Dabaiba and the government appointed by the House of Representatives led by Osama Hammad in the east of the country, amidst a continuing stalemate over agreeing on a constitutional framework and laws for holding elections.

The report noted the stalled implementation of the roadmap presented by Tetteh in August 2025, which is based on adopting an electoral framework, unifying institutions under a single executive authority, and launching a comprehensive dialogue to address economic and security issues.

Tetteh’s Efforts

During her latest briefing to the Security Council on Libya on February 18, 2025, Tetteh emphasized that despite the efforts of the UN mission, no tangible progress had been made on the first two pillars of the roadmap, as the restructuring of the High National Elections Commission is a crucial step in the process. While the House of Representatives and the High National Elections Commission had previously reached an agreement on the mechanism for selecting the Commission’s members, Tetteh noted that both institutions had taken unilateral steps that could undermine their unity.

On March 3, Security Council members reaffirmed their support for Tetteh’s mediation efforts and urged all Libyan parties to engage fully and immediately with the UN envoy on the political roadmap. They called on the parties to demonstrate the political will and consensus necessary to advance a Libyan-led process, and to refrain from taking unilateral actions that would deepen divisions, undermine reconciliation, or exacerbate the economic situation.

Economic Situation

International reports have warned of a deterioration in the country’s economic conditions, amid currency devaluation, rising inflation rates, and fuel shortages, in addition to escalating oil smuggling, which is considered one of the main sources of funding for armed groups. Recent reports have estimated Libya’s losses at approximately $20 billion as a result of fuel smuggling in recent years.

An investigative report released in November 2025 by The Sentry highlighted the escalating pace of fuel smuggling in Libya, estimating government losses at approximately $20 billion during the 2022–2024 period. The report attributed the crisis to the systematic exploitation of fuel subsidies and the bartering of crude oil for fuel by political elites across the country, noting that more than 50% of imported fuel is currently diverted to illicit networks, significantly weakening domestic supplies.

Pursuant to Resolution 2769, the Panel of Experts of the Libya Sanctions Committee submitted its final report by March 15, and the Sanctions Committee met to discuss the final report on March 24.

Oil Smuggling

The “Security Council Report” noted that previous reports issued by the Security Council pointed to unprecedented levels of oil smuggling, as the Council could consider strengthening the sanctions regime by targeting illicit payments made outside legitimate Libyan institutions, or examining the possibility of expanding the scope of the maritime embargo to combat illicit oil smuggling.

Security Council discussions are expected to focus on ways to strengthen the sanctions regime, including targeting financial networks linked to oil smuggling, as well as exploring mechanisms to support the UN-led political process and push Libyan parties toward consensus on holding elections.

Human Rights

A joint report issued by the UN Mission and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights revealed grave violations against migrants, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, and extortion, within what it described as an “exploitative model” run by networks linked to both official and unofficial entities.

On the political front, the most important issue for the Security Council is how to support the roadmap for a Libyan-led political process. A key objective of the Council is to help foster common political ground between the rival governments to reach a comprehensive agreement on electoral laws, including the possibility of forming a unified transitional government to organize the elections. Council members have issued two press statements in support of the ongoing process.

The report affirmed that Council members agree on the necessity of a comprehensive, Libyan-led political process leading to elections, as the only way to restore political, security, and economic stability in the country, emphasizing support for the United Nations’ role as a mediator and sharing concerns regarding the tense security situation.

Sharp Divergence on Sanctions

The report noted a sharp divergence in member states’ positions on sanctions, as the United States, the United Kingdom, and European countries view the sanctions regime as an important tool to support stability, rein in obstructionists, and protect Libya’s oil wealth. In contrast, Russia, China, and some other countries, such as Somalia and Pakistan, criticized the long-standing restrictions on frozen Libyan assets, calling for broader powers to be granted to Libyan authorities to reinvest and manage these funds, while warning against attempts by external parties to control the Libyan financial system for their own interests.

China and Russia also expressed concern over what they consider intrusive maritime mandates, particularly the “IRINI” operation by the European Union Naval Force in the Mediterranean, which is currently the only regional arrangement conducting inspections of ships on the high seas when there are reasonable grounds to believe they are violating the UN arms embargo.