Al-Manfi at the United Nations: Libya No Longer Needs Crisis Management, but the Will to End It

Tripoli, 23 September 2026 (LANA) — President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi, affirmed that Libya no longer needs further crisis management, but rather the will to end it, stressing that the path to building the state begins with returning to the people through elections, referendums, and constitutional and legal mechanisms.

In a speech delivered today, Wednesday, from the podium of the United Nations, Al-Menfi said that the Libyan people are the source of legitimacy, and that temporary deals and fragile settlements cannot be a substitute for their will. He affirmed that Libya wants a state that establishes its balance through its own will, rather than being an arena where the interests of others are balanced on its soil.

Al-Menfi announced the launch of work on a National Committee for De-escalation and Confidence-Building, with the aim of anticipating conflicts, containing escalation, supporting reconciliation, and creating a safe environment for the political and electoral process.

Al-Menfi stressed that national ownership represents a red line, and that international mediation must not turn into trusteeship or into the creation of solutions for Libya from abroad. He affirmed that Libya's sovereignty means that the national decision must be free, that state institutions must be stronger than individuals and groups, that weapons must be subject to the law, and that the country's wealth belongs to the people.

He affirmed that no one is above the law and that there must be no impunity, warning that corrupt money and illicit influence threaten the state and its institutions from within.

Al-Menfi called on the UN Security Council to follow up on violations and cases of non-compliance contained in the reports of the Panel of Experts, and to seriously consider its recommendations and take the necessary measures regarding them, without selectivity or double standards.

He said that Libya does not want to replace one influence with another, one axis with another, or one dependency with another. Rather, it wants countries to compete in investment, reconstruction, energy, and development, rather than competing for influence within its institutions. He noted that Libya's true ally is whoever wants a strong Libyan state, and that its true partner is whoever sees its interests expand as Libya becomes more united, stable, and prosperous.

On regional affairs, the President of the Presidential Council affirmed that the security of the Sahel is part of Libya's security, stressing that Libya is not on the borders of Africa but is part of Africa, and that the security and development of the continent represent an investment in the shared security of Africa and its European neighborhood.

He added that Libya views the Mediterranean Sea as a bridge for development, trade, energy, investment, and shared security, rather than as a dividing line between Africa and Europe or merely a space for managing migration and crises.

Al-Menfi announced Libya's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its security, territorial integrity, citizens, and holy sites, stressing that the security of the Kingdom and the Gulf represents a pillar of regional stability.

He also officially announced Libya's candidacy for membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2028–2029 term, for the African seat, under the slogan: “Advancing Justice for Security and Peace – Libya, a Bridge Between Nations.”

The President of the Presidential Council reaffirmed Libya's commitment to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and to establishing their state in accordance with international law, warning that undermining prospects for peace expands the cycle of conflict and extremism in the region.

...(LANA)...