The UN Security Council has a passed a resolution that extends Libya’s arms embargo for another year. Through the UK-drafted resolution 2420, the Security Council decided to extend the authorizations as set out in resolution 2357 (June 2017) for a further 12 months, which concerns the strict implementations of the arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.
the resolution renews the authorization for member states, acting nationally or through regional organizations, to inspect, on the high seas off the coast of Libya, vessels bound to or from Libya when reasonable grounds exist to believe that they are violating the arms embargo.
Moreover, Libya is still unstable and politically disunited and that selling arms to either side would tilt the delicate balance between the two and could lead to increased bloodshed.
The rationale for this call is that both the western and eastern Libyan authorities want to create an army and police force to defend against crime, people and goods-smuggling as well as to fight terrorism and defend Libya’s porous land and sea borders.
