UN promotes mediation to end Libya chaos and restore peace

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution welcoming recent efforts to bring opposing sides together in Libya – a conflict that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says is ripe for mediation to end years of chaos and restore peace.

The resolution adopted on Thursday extends the UN political mission in the country until September 15, 2018, with a mandate “to exercise mediation and good offices” to support “an inclusive political process.”


Libya sank into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moammar Gaddafi. It is split between rival parliaments, governments and militias in the east and west. But in late July the rival leaders pledged to cooperate.

Guterres told reporters on Wednesday that mediation should be a top priority and that “progress can be made in the short term.”