Libya’s UN Envoy criticizes prolonged delay in roadmap for political transition

Libya’s UN ambassador, Taher El-Sonni, has voiced deep frustration over the continued absence of a concrete UN-led political roadmap for his country, highlighting what he called an unsustainable delay in efforts to resolve Libya’s political impasse.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday, June 24, following a briefing by Hanna Tetteh, the Secretary-General’s special representative for Libya, El-Sonni stated that Libyans are still waiting for practical proposals. He acknowledged Tetteh’s engagement but lamented that, despite months of expectation, no substantive plan has yet been presented.

Tetteh, who assumed office in February 2025 following a nine-month vacancy after the resignation of her predecessor, said she intends to present a roadmap during her next briefing in August. However, El-Sonni criticized this timeline, pointing out that by August, nearly a year and a half would have passed without a functioning political process. He warned that Libya could no longer afford such delays, given the country’s fragile political landscape, and urged the UN to act with urgency and clarity.

Emphasizing that his criticism extended beyond Tetteh to the broader UN system, El-Sonni denounced the protracted leadership gaps and indecision that have plagued the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in recent years. He called on the Security Council and the UN as a whole to assume collective responsibility and deliver timely, actionable solutions. The Libyan ambassador’s comments reflect growing impatience among Libyans amid a worsening political vacuum and a stalled transition process.