Nigeria, Others Back UN Support Mission For Libya

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Nigeria and other members of the United Nations Security Council have agreed to deploy a mission to Libya to support the North African country’s transitional authorities in their reconstruction efforts after the end of the conflict,geared towards restoring the rule of law, drafting a new constitution, promoting reconciliation and preparing for elections.
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In a resolution adopted unanimously, Council members, including Nigeria, said the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will be led by a special representative of the secretary-general for an initial period of three months.
They also lifted some of the arms embargo, assets’ freeze and ‘no-fly zone’ order that had been imposed by the Council earlier this year, after forces supporting the regime of Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi began a brutal crackdown on many of the country’s citizens.
Today’s resolution tasks the new mission with restoring public security and the rule of law, promoting inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, and helping the National Transitional Council (NTC) embark on the constitution-making process, as well as lay the foundation for an electoral process.
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UNSMIL will also help extend the state’s authority through strengthening emerging accountable institutions, restoring public services, promoting and protecting human rights (particularly for vulnerable groups), and supporting transitional justice.
The mission will take immediate steps to initiate economic recovery and coordinate support that may be requested from other multi-lateral and bi-lateral actors as appropriate.
In the resolution, the Council made several modifications to the assets freeze, ‘no-fly zone’ order and arms embargo that had been imposed.
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The 15-member body exempted the Libyan National Oil Corporation and the ?Zueitina Oil Company from the asset freeze, and similarly eased measures against the Central Bank of Libya, the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank (LAFB), the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), and the Libyan Africa Investment Portfolio (LAIP).