The Libyan Government has strongly condemned what it described as the “repeated and unjustified interference” of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in the country’s internal affairs, asserting that the Mission’s recent actions exceed its mandate under the UN Charter and the principle of respect for national sovereignty.
In an official statement, the government said the Mission had deviated from its core responsibilities, accusing it of interfering in the work of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) by attempting to impose mechanisms for forming its board based on “non-legal and politically biased criteria.”
The statement further criticized UNSMIL’s recent consultations involving so-called cultural and linguistic components, describing such moves as a threat to Libya’s unified social and cultural fabric. It warned that this approach risks reviving divisive tendencies that the Libyan people have already overcome.
The government also accused the Mission of overstepping the authority of Libya’s legislative institutions by attempting to exercise oversight over constitutional and legal frameworks governing the electoral process. It rejected references by the Mission to an “alternative approach” should Libyan institutions fail to reach consensus, calling it an unacceptable form of guardianship over the national will.
Concluding its statement, the government reaffirmed that respect for Libya’s sovereignty, unity, and collective identity remains a non-negotiable foundation for any cooperation with the United Nations. It praised UN Secretary-General António Guterres for his efforts to restructure the Mission in a manner that ensures neutrality, balance, and fair representation of all regions across Libya.