Security Council renews UNSMIL Libya mandate for just three months due to lack of agreement

The UN Security Council voted yesterday to extend the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) but for a period of 3 months (until 31 October 3) rather than the usual year.

The short extension was as a result of Russian objections who insist that a new UNSMIL head is chosen before it agrees to a longer extension. However, disagreements between who that new UNSMIL head had forced UN Secretary General to appoint Stephanie Williams as his Special Representative in the meanwhile.

The lack of an UNSMIL head has left a vacuum which analysts say has contributed to the current Libyan political and military crisis.