Divided UN extends Libya mission for 3 months

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A divided UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution extending its political mission in Libya by three months, and Russia vetoed a longer extension until a new UN envoy is appointed.

The resolution extends the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) until July 31, 2022, and "calls upon the Secretary-General to appoint an SRSG (emissary) promptly" to be based in the capital Tripoli.

The resolution required the UN chief to report monthly on the implementation of the text until the end of July.

UNSMIL's mandate, which is renewed annually, was extended in September for four months, and then it was renewed for another three in January.

At the beginning of the negotiations, diplomats said the United Kingdom presented the UNSC with a draft resolution to renew the mission's mandate for one year, though Russia opposed the text, rendering it a technical renewal of the mandate for only three months.

Divisions have plagued the country following the UN and NATO intervention in the country as opposing forces try to assume control, with two opposing executives being in place for two months now.

The UN resolution adopted Friday also urges "all parties to refrain from any actions that could undermine the political process" or a 2020 October ceasefire.

Geneva has been investigating suspected war crimes in Libya, namely looting, in a probe into a network smuggling Libyan Gasoil, Swiss state prosecutors said Thursday, which is directly linked to NATO's greed when it came to the resource-rich country.

This would not be the first time that Europe has committed violations in Libya, as NATO's international war was concocted by Brussels and Washington, which subsequently led to the collapse of Libya as a whole.