The Security Council today renewed until 15 August 2027 the mandate of the Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring the implementation of sanctions on Libya and extended until 1 August 2027 the authorization for Member States to take measures against the illicit export of petroleum from the country.
The sanctions regime dates back to early 2011, when protests erupted in Libya against the Government of Muammar Qadhafi amid widespread popular uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa. In response to the violent repression by Libyan authorities against demonstrators, the Council adopted resolution 1970 (2011), laying the legal and institutional foundation for restrictive measures.
Building on this framework, the Council today took further action by unanimously adopting resolution 2819 (2026) (to be issued as document S/RES/2819(2026) ). Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, it decided to extend until 1 August 2027 the authorizations and the measures in resolution 2146 (2014), as amended by paragraph 2 of resolutions 2441 (2018) and 2509 (2020).
These include the authorization for Member States to inspect on the high seas vessels designated by the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee as being involved in the illicit export of petroleum from the country, and for the Committee to impose measures on such vessels, including denial of port entry, prohibition of servicing and related financial transactions, and the return of illicit cargoes to Libya.
Exemption Established to Asset Freeze, Arms Embargos
Also through today's action, the Council created a narrowly defined exemption to the asset freeze so that the Libyan Investment Authority can change its global custodian bank within the same jurisdiction, under strict conditions and with prior approval from the Committee.
Further, the Council introduced a narrowly tailored, request‑based exemption to the arms embargo to allow Member States to provide technical assistance and training for Libyan security reunification, including temporary protective equipment for non-Libyan providers, subject to advance notification and full Committee oversight.
Panel of Experts' Extended with Mandate Unchanged
The Council decided that Panel's mandated tasks shall remain as defined in resolution 2213 (2015) and apply to the measures updated in this resolution. The Panel shall provide to the Council an interim report on its work no later than 15 December 2026 and a final report to the Council no later than 15 June 2027.
"Today's resolution underscores this Council's commitment to peace and security in Libya, and to protecting the interests of the Libyan people," said the representative of the United Kingdom, which led negotiations on the text. He welcomed measures to counter illicit oil exports, ensure concerted international action against oil smuggling in Libya and allow the Authority to transfer the role of global custodian under Committee oversight.
Delegates Applaud Greater Oversight of Libya's Frozen Assets
His counterpart from Somalia, speaking also for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, expressed deep concern about the continuous erosion of Libya's frozen assets due to misuse or mismanagement by certain international financial institutions. "These assets are frozen for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving their value for the benefit of the Libyan people, not for the institutions holding the funds," he said, demanding full accountability, reparations, and compensation for such violations.
In this regard, he welcomed the inclusion of paragraph 17, which requests Member States and financial institutions to support a comprehensive audit by the Authority to verify the aggregate amount, location, and jurisdiction of all frozen assets. He also welcomed the update to paragraph 19 (a) of resolution 1970 (2011), which now allows the Authority to use its frozen assets to pay salaries and requirements.
Similarly, the representative of Greece welcomed the inclusion of clarifying provisions on the asset freeze aimed at protecting frozen assets for the benefit of the Libyan people, particularly measures calling on Member States and financial institutions to safeguard assets and support a comprehensive audit by the Authority.
China's delegate said the original intention of the asset freeze was to ensure the welfare of the Libyan people, "not to punish them". He welcomed changes in today's resolution that better reflect this goal, including a pathway towards the "reasonable reinvestment" of those assets. All parties must ensure that transactions related to oil exports go through Libya's National Oil Corporation and strictly adhere to the arms embargo, he said.
Panama's representative agreed that the use of Libya's frozen oil assets must benefit the country's people. In that regard, he expressed support for an independent audit and urged all Member States to strictly respect the terms of today's resolution.
Support for Libya's First Unified National Budget in Over 13 Years
The speaker for the United States welcomed the agreement reached on 11 April, with the support of her country, by Libya's western and eastern stakeholders on the country's first unified national budget in more than 13 years. She emphasized that full implementation of the unified budget would strengthen Libya's financial stability, help safeguard the value of the national currency and the purchasing power of the Libyan people, boost oil production, and enable the implementation of transparent development projects across the country.
She concluded: "The work we do here to discourage illicit activities, strengthen Libyan institutions and protect the assets of the Libyan people will complement this landmark achievement and bring us closer to the goal of a united and prosperous Libya."
