The Libyan Government has issued a strong statement condemning the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for signing an agreement with Qatar to fund what the mission described as “structured political dialogue” in Libya. In an official declaration (Statement No. 30/2025), the government denounced the move as a serious and unacceptable violation of Libyan sovereignty.
According to the statement, the government expressed its “deep condemnation and strong objection” to what it called UNSMIL’s “dangerous and unprecedented conduct,” stating that the mission had exceeded its mandate and engaged in direct interference in Libya’s internal affairs.
The government accused UNSMIL of breaching diplomatic norms and violating international standards that oblige UN missions to respect the sovereignty of host states. It argued that the agreement with Qatar represents foreign political financing inside Libya without consultation or prior notification of any Libyan authority.
The statement emphasised that such actions undermine trust and jeopardise prospects for a genuine national political process driven by Libyans themselves. The government said the mission’s conduct “raises serious questions” about its intentions and called on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to investigate the circumstances of the agreement and hold those responsible accountable.
The government further warned that UNSMIL’s actions contradict the mission’s stated role, which should be limited to support and facilitation — not political engineering or imposing external agendas. It stressed that any political initiative, roadmap, or dialogue process must be fully Libyan-led to be legitimate and credible.
In a decisive move, the Libyan Government announced the suspension of all forms of cooperation and coordination with UNSMIL until the mission retracts its actions and issues an official apology. It also demanded a detailed explanation of the motives behind what it described as a “dangerous step,” rejecting any political or financial arrangements made behind Libya’s back.
Prime Minister Dr. Osama Saad Hamad reiterated that the government rejects any external interference or attempts to revive political tracks that bypass national initiatives. He stated that no initiative arising from external funding or influence will be recognised as legitimate.
The statement concluded by affirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding Libya’s sovereignty and protecting national decision-making from foreign intervention.
