UNSMIL: Statement During Briefing, Delivered in Person by Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs

Thank you Mr. President

Allow me at the outset to express how delighted and honoured I am, to be able to address the Security in person, for the first time. I thank you Your Excellency Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian for the opportunity.

I congratulate you for successfully steering the work of the Council since the assumption of France to the Presidency for the month of July.

I acknowledge and welcome the participation of His Excellency, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of Libya, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Chad and Germany, and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States.

I also acknowledge and thank Mr. Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy of the Secretary General on Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for his briefing.

Mr. President,

Through the past one and a half years, the people of Libya have steadily achieved key milestones within the peace process, and continue to work towards a peaceful, secure and stable Libya. We laud them for this and urge them to continue steadfastly in national dialogue and engagement towards the peaceful, secure and stable Libya they envision.

We also laud the Special Envoy and the UN Mission for the support they are offering Libya. Every gain, however little it may be, should be protected with the understanding that peace processes should not be forced but be allowed space for the people to pool together in dialogue for purposes of acceptance and ownership.

We encourage continued national dialogue towards the delivery of the 24 December elections in line with the Libya Political Dialogue Forum road map.

My delegation acknowledges the steps being taken by the Government of National unity to galvanise unity such as the establishment of the Libya Stabilisation Initiative. Such initiatives should be designed and implemented in a manner that all Libyans feel reached and represented. We encourage continued efforts towards the re-unification of national institutions, to fulfil the government's commitments to the people.

Mr. President,

The importance of national reconciliation cannot be overstated. Therefore, Kenya welcomes the establishment of the High National Reconciliation Commission as a critical step towards this end. We urge the government's continued commitment to the process with the support of the African Union.

We note and encourage the continued efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and to ensuring the completion of the requirements for the deployment of the UN ceasefire monitoring component in support of the Libya Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism.

Kenya further welcomes the conclusions of the second Berlin Conference of 23 June especially with regard to the requirement for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including the immediate withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya as well as compliance with the arms embargo.

These conclusions dovetail the calls by this Council that all foreign fighters and mercenaries must leave Libya in line with resolutions 2570 and 2571. This is critical considering that the continued presence and that of their accumulated arms constitute a grave threat to the peace process and any gains achieved.

Mr. President,

In addition, the continued presence of foreign fighters and mercenaries creates a conducive environment for terrorism and violent extremism.

We continue to call on the planning and implementation of a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme in Libya alongside security sector reforms that take into account surveillance of the southern border.

In response to the threat to the neighbouring states and the Sahel region, it is the responsibility of this Council, to not only play a preventive role but also, to address the threat. Kenya continues to call on the need for corresponding DDR programmes in neighbouring states in the region where some of the fighters come from or are bound to pass through as they depart Libya. To achieve this, we highly recommend that the mandate of UNSMIL is adjusted to include a regional dimension in DDR. We hope that this is also factored into the ongoing independent Strategic Review.

In view of the regional dimension of situation in Libya, it is important that UNSMIL works in close coordination and consultation with neighbouring states, regional organisations, and other interested partners in this regard.

We continue calling for the humane treatment of refugees in Libya. In particular all involved should desist from the interception at sea and returning of migrants to Libyan ports.

Finally, Mr. President, Kenya calls on all Member States and regional organisations to support a truly Libyan-led and owned peace process, in a manner that upholds Libya's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. I reassure of Kenya's support and continued commitment in this regard.

Thank you for your kind attention.