UN envoy says Libya at 'significant' juncture as political roadmap stalls

The UN's top envoy for Libya said Wednesday that a stalled political progress, deteriorating economy and persistent institutional divisions are pushing the country toward deeper instability.

"We are not where we would like to be in terms of progress on the roadmap," Hanna Tetteh told the UN Security Council, cautioning that some Libyan actors continue to sidestep public expectations and democratic accountability.

Tetteh expressed concern that structures established outside existing political agreements are undermining UN-led efforts to reunify state institutions. She warned that allowing the situation to persist without pressure for change was counterproductive.

"Conducting business as usual under the current circumstances inadvertently legitimizes the status quo rather than incentivizing serious negotiations and encouraging the necessary compromises to reunify the country," she said.

Noting that the cost of delay extends beyond Libya's borders, she said, "There are both national and regional risks to any continued inaction and foot-dragging on the implementation of the roadmap."

On the economic front, Tetteh pointed to worsening conditions since her last briefing and stated that pressures, rising prices, fuel shortages and growing poverty are signs that fundamental change is needed.

"These trends confirm that the current economic model, and the practices underpinning it, are no longer sustainable," she said, adding that deterioration is fueling public anger and increasing the risk of further instability.

Despite the grim outlook, Tetteh pointed to a narrow opportunity presented by a temporary oil revenue windfall, as a chance to "reinforce macroeconomic stability and restore integrity in public finance."

On security, she noted that while no ceasefire violations were recorded, the situation remains fragile, particularly in southern border areas and along the volatile northwest coastal line, where armed groups and criminal networks are competing for territory.

Tetteh also flagged the growing humanitarian burden stemming from the conflict in Sudan, with Libya requiring an estimated $115.5 million to support roughly 597,000 Sudanese refugees in 2026.

She urged "the Security Council to leverage its collective influence to ensure Libyan leaders fulfill their obligations to unify institutions and work towards the holding of national elections."

"Libya has reached a significant political, economic, and security juncture," she said, warning that state institutions remain divided and progress toward national elections has been insufficient.

Libya remains split between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and an eastern-based government appointed by the House of Representatives and headed by Osama Hammad in Benghazi.

For years, UN efforts have aimed to bridge the divide and pave the way for long-delayed elections intended to reunify the country’s fractured institutions.