The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) announced on Wednesday the establishment of a Joint Border Security Centre in Benghazi.
In a statement, the UN mission stated that the joint security center represents a major step toward unifying Libya’s security efforts and strengthening cooperation between military and law enforcement institutions across the country.
It added that the initiative follows an agreement reached between representatives of security and military agencies from eastern, western, and southern Libya, in partnership with the Joint Technical Coordination Team, formed earlier this year to enhance coordination and information sharing on border management.
UNSMIL noted that the Benghazi center will become operational within weeks, joining its counterpart in Tripoli, which began work in April 2025. The two centers will operate in tandem to facilitate real-time information exchange, unified responses to border threats, and joint strategies to counter smuggling, trafficking, and organized crime.
According to the mission, the creation of the center reflects a growing consensus among Libyan institutions on the need for coordinated national border management and professional security structures. It also demonstrates progress in confidence-building between military and security entities that have long operated under divided administrations.
Ali Khalkhal, UNSMIL’s Senior Border Security Advisor, said the new center represents “a vital step toward unifying Libya’s military establishment and building mutual trust.” He noted that its establishment will help translate cooperation and dialogue into practical outcomes, improving Libya’s capacity to protect and manage its borders effectively.
The UN mission emphasized that this initiative is part of its broader support for Libya’s stabilization and institutional reunification. It aims to ensure that border security efforts contribute not only to national cohesion and safety but also to regional stability across North Africa and the Sahel.
