By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN Security Council on Thursday passed a resolution to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee which extends measures related to the illicit export of petroleum from oil-rich Libya, initially authorised in 2014.
The resolution authored by the United Kingdom was passed by 14 votes with none against, Russia abstained.
It introduced new provisions concerning the arms embargo and assets freeze measures imposed in 2011 after the overthrow of long-term ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
It also establishes a new listing criterion targeting individuals and entities involved in the illicit exploitation of crude oil or refined petrol in Libya.
The Council’s 2014 resolution allowed Member States to inspect vessels at sea suspected of smuggling petrol products from Libya.
The most renewal of this authorisation was in October 2023, extending it until February 1, 2025 – and the PoE’s mandate until February 15, 2025.
The PoE briefed the sanctions committee on its final report, highlighted an increase in diesel fuel smuggling.
The report recommended a new designation criterion to address this.
The PoE also suggested measures to accommodate a request from the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) to reinvest its frozen assets, which have depreciated under the current freeze.
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