Delivering a statement at the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom urged Libya’s political institutions to break the deadlock and set a credible path to national elections, aligning itself with UN mediation.
The UK reaffirmed full support for the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and welcomed the launch of the Structured Dialogue on 14 December. According to the government statement, the forum brings together participants from across Libya to develop policy and legislative recommendations that could advance the political process.
London underscored that diverse Libyan voices - in particular women and young people - must be able to shape the country’s future. The intervention echoed the comments of the UN Secretary‑General’s Special Representative and stressed the need for inclusive participation to anchor any roadmap in public consent.
Calling for urgent progress, the UK said Libya’s institutions mandated to prepare a pathway to elections should accelerate their work. It noted that while the Special Representative presented a roadmap in August, initial milestones remain unmet after four months, and urged intensified discussions between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.
The UK argued that these talks should deliver visible steps towards a timetable and legal basis for elections, alongside practical arrangements that would restore public confidence. Prolonged delay, it warned, risks further entrenching political division and uncertainty.
On economic governance, the statement welcomed the recent agreement on a Unified Development Programme signed by representatives of the High Council of State and the House of Representatives, describing it as a positive step to safeguard Libya’s economic future.
Officials stressed that any such mechanism must operate transparently and equitably so that national resources benefit all Libyans, not narrow interests. Effective oversight and public disclosure were highlighted as necessary to prevent misallocation and corruption.
The statement concluded that the status quo is unsustainable: each month without progress deepens instability, fuels corruption, and erodes trust. The UK called on Libyan actors to act with urgency and in good faith to reach a durable political settlement.