NEW YORK – The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) released on Thursday a report on Libya by the Secretary-General of the U.N. , António Guterres, which he submitted to the Security Council.
The report covers political, security and economic developments in Libya, provides an overview of the human rights and humanitarian situation and outlines the activities of UNSMIL since the issuance of Guterres’ previous report on 7 January 2019.
In September 2018, the Security Council issued resolution 2434 in which Guterres was requested to report on the implementation of this resolution at least every 60 days.
In April, the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched a military operation to fight against militias and terrorist groups, which have been the main cause of chaos in the capital since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. In response, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) forged an alliance with these militias, claiming that LNA wants overthrow Fayez Al-Sarraj.
The fighting, which has been concentrated mainly in and around southern Tripoli, has resulted in at least 395 civilian casualties, including 106 fatalities, and has damaged critical civilian infrastructure. The conflict has aggravated humanitarian needs and forced displacement while hindering access to food, health care and other basic services.
In his latest report, Guterres echoed reports made by LNA that “mercenaries have been active on the battlefield in and around Tripoli.”
The UN Secretary-General referred to the case of Jamie Sponaugle, a 31-year-old American pilot, who operated a GNA warplane before it was shot down by LNA on May 7. Sponaugle, who lied on camera about his nationality after his arrest by LNA, was repatriated on 25 June.
Guterres expressed his concern over “the presence of foreign fighters and mercenaries being employed by parties to the conflict in Libya as well as by the influx of weapons to the country”.
Guterres wrote about the war crimes and human rights abuses perpetrated by GNA forces. He referred to the summary execution of 41 injured LNA soldiers and some civilians by GNA forces at the hospital in Gharyan on June 26.
The UN Secretary-General wrote that the UNSMIL “continued to receive credible reports of prolonged and arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, poor detention conditions, medical neglect, and the denial of visits from families and lawyers” at GNA-ran prisons.
Guterres addressed in his report the situation of migrants detained in GNA-ran prisons, the abuses they endure and their vulnerability during the conflict in the capital.
“There are 4,900 refugees and migrants currently held in detention centers run by a government agency. Of that number, an estimated 3,500 are exposed to, or in close proximity to, the fighting in and around Tripoli.”
“Migrants and refugees continued to be vulnerable to: loss of liberty and arbitrary detention in official and unofficial places of detention; torture, including sexual violence; abduction for ransom; extortion; forced labour; and unlawful killings.”
Guterres revealed that perpetrators of violations included “State officials, members of armed groups, smugglers, traffickers and members of criminal gangs.”
With respect to Libyan economy, the UN Secretary-General reported that oil production continued largely uninterrupted, at approximately 1.2 million barrels per day. However, he said that “despite the increased budget revenue and increased oil prices, Libya was expected to have a budget deficit of up to $10 billion in 2019, owing in part to the diversion of resources to sustain the conflict.”
On terrorism, Guterres said that ISIS (a.k.a. ISIL) remained active in Libya’s southern region. He made reference to multiple attacks perpetrated by ISIS terrorists against LNA in southern towns during the course of this year. Guterres said LNA continued to”disrupt ISIL cells and arrest suspected affiliated individuals.”
The UN Secretary-General said the situation in the eastern region “remained relatively calm”.
“In Darnah, the Libyan National Army gained control of the remaining part of the old city on 12 February, following intense fighting between Army forces and remnants of the Darnah Protection Force,” he reported.
At the end of his report, Guterres welcomed “the commitment of both parties to a humanitarian truce on the occasion of Eid al-Adha and the following reduction of violence in the Tripoli area.”
He called on Libya’s warring parties to “respond positively in good faith” to his envoy Ghassan Salamé’s three-step proposal, including the international and national meetings.
The UN Secretary-General stressed that “a political solution to the Libyan conflict requires the full and united support of the international community.”
“I remind Member States of their obligations not to sell or supply arms to Libya, and I call upon them to implement all measures related to the arms embargo”.
He notably made no mention of Turkey’s violation of the arms embargo by sending drones and armed vehicles to GNA fighters.
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, had admitted publicly that his country is selling military equipment to GNA.
“In light of their demands, we offer them support, in exchange for compensation, of course,” he told reporters in June.
He declined to detail the weaponry, but described the ministry of defense and the Turkish national intelligence agency as key players in the program.
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