Resolution 2291, adopted on Monday, 13 June, extends the mandate of UNSMIL - the United Nations Support Mission in Libya - for a further six months. This special integrated political mediation mission seeks to contribute to the application of the Libyan Political Agreement, offer support to the Government of National Accord and facilitate the Libyan political transition process.
For its part, Resolution 2292, adopted on Tuesday, 14 June, authorises regional States and organisations to inspect vessels bound for Libya or departing Libya at high sea off the coast of Libya, when founded reasons exist to believe that they may be violating the arms embargo in force. States may seize weapons and ammunition discovered in these inspections.
The aim of this second resolution is to strengthen the effectiveness of the arms embargo in force and to combat illegal arms trafficking en route to Libya that is undermining peace and stability in the country and in the whole Sahel region. This has been repeatedly requested by the Libyan authorities and the international community committed to this at the Ministerial Conference held in Vienna in May, at which Spain took part. This text must help contribute to strengthen the authority of the Presidential Council and the Government of National Accord, which has now been established in Tripoli.
The resolution enables the scope of action of the European Union Operation EUNAVFOR MED Sophia to be expanded, which was set up to fight the illegal trafficking of migrants leaving Libya and which in its first year of operation has saved some 15,000 lives, destroyed 129 vessels engaged in people trafficking and arrested 71 traffickers. In May 2016, the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU agreed to extend the mandate of this operation for a further year and entrust it with additional tasks, including the training of Libyan coast guards and contributing to the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations based on the Security Council resolution adopted on Tuesday.
Spain, which backed the adoption of this resolution, together with the other two European Union partners that are members of the Security Council, is the third leading contributor to Operation EUNAVFOR MED Sophia and actively cooperates with Libya in other areas such as emergency humanitarian aid, strengthening local institutions, fostering the freedom of the press and the fight against the discourse of hatred in the media.
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