https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / News / All News RSS ← Back
Export|Petroleum|Power|SECURITY|Products
Export|Petroleum|Power|SECURITY|Products
export|petroleum|power|security|products
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

UN to vote on resolution supporting Libya ceasefire

Close

Embed Video

UN to vote on resolution supporting Libya ceasefire

12th February 2020

By: Reuters

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

The United Nations (UN) Security Council is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution that would endorse a 55-point plan for ending the war in Libya and condemn the recent increase in violence.

The British-drafted resolution demands the warring parties "commit to a lasting ceasefire ... without preconditions". 

Advertisement

It also insists on full compliance with a UN arms embargo that has been repeatedly broken, as called for in the plan approved by leaders of 12 world powers and other key countries that  met  on January 19 in Berlin.

It also recalls the commitment of all participants at the Berlin meeting to refrain from interfering in Libya's conflict and its internal affairs and expresses concern "over the growing involvement of mercenaries in Libya".

Advertisement

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last week that the agreement has been repeatedly violated by continuing arms deliveries to the warring parties and escalating fighting.

He called the current offensives by rival forces "a scandal", saying the commitments "apparently were made without a true intention of respecting them".

Draft resolution calls for permanent ceasefire Libya has been in turmoil since 2011 when a civil war toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi who was later killed.

A weak UN-recognised administration, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj , holds the capital of Tripoli and parts of the country's west and is backed by Turkey, which recently sent thousands of soldiers to Libya.

On the other side is a rival government in the east that supports self-styled renegade military commander Khalifa Hafta, whose forces launched an offensive to capture the capital last April and are backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

The Tripoli authorities and US officials have accused Haftar of relying on hundreds of Russian mercenaries. Sudanese armed groups from the Darfur region recently joined the fighting on both sides, according to a report by UN experts.

The draft resolution welcomes last week's ceasefire talks between Libya's warring sides in Geneva and calls for their continuation "without further delay in order to agree [to] a permanent ceasefire".

It asks Guterres to submit his views on conditions for a ceasefire and proposals for effective monitoring of a truce, with a view to making detailed recommendations when a ceasefire is announced.

The Security Council on Tuesday voted 14-0 with Russia abstaining on a resolution extending the arms embargo, travel ban, asset freeze and other sanctions on Libya and Libyans until April 30, 2021.

It also extended the mandate of the UN panel of experts monitoring the implementation of the sanctions until May 15, 2021.

The draft resolution condemns attempts to illicitly export oil and refined petroleum products from Libya and it asks the UN experts to report on illicit exports or imports to Libya of petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products.

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia objected to the reference to oil imports. Reports of Tripoli shelling Meanwhile, there were reports that artillery shells on Tuesday hit the centre of the Libyan capital, which Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have been trying to take in a near year-long war. Shells landed late at night in the central Nouflin and Souq al-Jumaa districts, which had been mostly spared so far from the conflict, according to Reuters News Agency.

Parts of the capital were plunged into darkness as power failed. There was no immediate word on casualties from authorities and no more details available. According to the UN, the war has displaced some 150 000 people.

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now