The United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL) is an integrated special political mission established on 16 September 2011 by UN Security Council Resolution 2009 (2011) at the request of the Libyan authorities to support the country’s new transitional authorities in their post-conflict efforts. UNSMIL’s mandate was modified and extended by the Security Council in resolutions 2022 (2011), 2040 (2012), 2095 (2013), 2144 (2014), 2238 (2015), 2323 (2016) and 2376 (2017). Its current mandate is stipulated by the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2434 (2018), which extended UNSMIL’s mission until 15 September 2019.
All UN activities in Libya are guided by the principle of national ownership. The Mission under the leadership of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), supported by a Deputy SRSG, is overseen by the United Nations’ Department of Political Affairs, which provides guidance and operational assistance.
UNSMIL has substantive staff in political affairs, human rights, transitional justice, mine action, demobilization, development, women’s empowerment, public information and communication, as well as support staff.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2323 in December 2016, the Security Council mandated UNSMIL, in full accordance with the principles of national ownership, to exercise mediation and good offices in support of the Libyan political agreement’s implementation; the consolidation of governance, security and economic arrangements of the Government of National Accord and subsequent phases of the Libyan transition process.
Further, UNSMIL, within operational and security constraints, should support key Libyan institutions and provide, upon request, essential services and humanitarian assistance. Among other mandated functions, UNSMIL is tasked with monitoring and reporting on human rights; support for securing uncontrolled arms and counter-proliferation; and the co-ordination of international assistance and the provision of advice and assistance to efforts led by the Government of National Accord to stabilise post-conflict zones, including those liberated from ISIL.