In brief
On Saturday, November 1, 2026, Libya’s Presidential Council head Mohamed Menfi and officials in eastern Libya welcomed a UN Security Council resolution that extended the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya for 12 months. Menfi praised the mission’s mediation role and called for unity and national consensus, while eastern authorities urged the unification of state institutions to enable free, fair elections. The resolution passed with 13 votes in favor, with Russia and Greece abstaining, following the expiration of the previous mandate.
On Saturday, November 1, 2026, Libya’s Presidential Council head Mohamed Menfi and officials from eastern Libya issued statements welcoming the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2835, which extends the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for another twelve months.
Menfi, writing on his official Facebook page, praised UNSMIL for its mediation work and said the resolution “reaffirmed respect for Libya’s sovereignty, national unity and the frameworks governing the political process.” He urged that any agreements not based on national consensus would fail to secure a lasting settlement.
Eastern authorities echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the need to establish a unified executive authority, end institutional divisions, and unify sovereign and oversight institutions, thereby paving the way for free and fair elections grounded in national consensus and a sound constitutional framework.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2835 on Friday, just before the previous mandate expired. Thirteen of the Council’s fifteen members voted in favor, while Russia and Greece abstained.
Libya remains divided since 2011, with the internationally recognized Government of National Unity based in Tripoli administering western Libya and a Haftar‑backed government in Benghazi and the east and south. The new mandate is intended to support both sides toward a unified political settlement.
The resolution affirms that the extended mandate will enable UNSMIL to continue its work in mediating between rival administrations and supporting the implementation of Libya’s political roadmap.
