Briefing the Security Council on Wednesday, the UN chief described the context in Libya as “gloomy”.

“Time is not on our side in Libya”, he told a video-teleconference meeting of the Council that featured statements by several foreign ministers.

As tensions simmer in central Libya, the United Nations has continued to engage with the parties to prevent the conflict from spreading to Libya’s Oil Crescent region, from which the country derives sixty percent of its oil resources.

“The current blockade has already cost over six billion dollars in lost revenues, damaged oil infrastructure and created the conditions for an historically high budget deficit of over 50 per cent of Libya’s GDP.” said António Guterres

With the support of Member States, the Mission has undertaken mediation aimed at lifting the oil blockade, in place since January 2020, in order to spare this vitally important area from the full spectre of armed conflict and to alleviate economic hardship compounded by the conflict and COVID-19.