The United Nations Support Mission in Libya issued a detailed clarification on Sunday regarding its funding mechanisms, following what it described as an organized misinformation campaign targeting the mission and the financial support behind the political process in Libya.
UNSMIL stressed that its activities are funded through the UN’s regular budget, contributed by all 193 member states, in addition to voluntary donations earmarked for clearly defined projects such as political dialogue support, demining operations, institutional reform, and preparations for future elections.
The mission emphasized that donor contributions do not influence the direction of the political process or its outcomes. According to the statement, the UN’s role is strictly limited to facilitating an inclusive platform for Libyan-Libyan dialogue. The mission reiterated that Libya’s future belongs exclusively to Libyans and that no external actor determines political agendas, priorities, or results.
UNSMIL condemned what it described as deliberate disinformation attempts aimed at undermining public confidence in the mission’s work. It urged Libyan stakeholders to refocus efforts on returning authority to the Libyan people through a political process that is nationally led and inclusive of women, youth, and civil society actors.
The clarification comes after strong reactions from Libyan authorities regarding a recently signed externally funded agreement between the UN mission and the State of Qatar to support dialogue initiatives.
The Libyan Government announced the suspension of all coordination and engagement with the mission, describing the funding agreement as an unprecedented violation of Libyan sovereignty. The government argued that the deal was signed without consultation with Libyan institutions and therefore exceeded the mission’s mandate and undermined the political process.
It accused the mission of eroding trust and allowing external involvement in matters that must remain strictly national in character. The government reiterated that any political roadmap or dialogue initiative must originate from Libyan institutions and must not rely on foreign funding or external influence.
The House of Representatives’ Defense and National Security Committee issued a similar condemnation, calling the Qatar agreement a serious overstep and a direct intervention in domestic affairs. The committee demanded that UNSMIL respect Libyan sovereignty and adhere strictly to its mandated role.
UNSMIL concluded by reaffirming that all contributions are governed by the UN’s global financial oversight system, which includes multi-tier approval, mandatory reporting, and independent auditing to ensure transparency and prevent misuse.