Libya - Hijacked State & Stolen Wealth

This United Nations Security Council report exposes Libya’s entrenched war economy, revealing how armed groups have seized control of state institutions, economic resources, and political processes. Through coercion, human rights abuses, and election obstruction, these factions maintain power while high-level actors enable a system of impunity. Despite a standing arms embargo, transnational networks and illicit maritime transfers continue to funnel weapons into Libya. The report also details the systematic theft of national wealth, including illegal oil and petroleum exports that divert billions in state revenue toward private interests and militia activities. Ultimately, the findings portray a state captured by competing armed networks, where illicit wealth and unchecked power undermine democratic transition, perpetuate instability, and threaten security beyond Libya’s borders.