Libya
In a statement marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons on 26 September 2023, Libya said that ‘the very existence of nuclear weapons is a threat in and of itself to humanity and human civilisation’. It recalled that it abandoned its nuclear weapon programme in 2003.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes (observer) |
| 2MSP delegation size (% women) | 3 (0%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Did not vote |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 2005, Pelindaba) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1975) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2004) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1982) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Acceded 2004) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (8 Jul 1980) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | No |
| Additional Protocol | Yes |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | Cleared |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Libya expressed concern at the lack of full implementation of the NPT. It is our duty ‘to ensure the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction’, it said.2
Libya observed the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (2MSP) in November and December 2023 but did not make a statement. It was one of the co-sponsors for the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date’.3
Recommendations
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Libya should urgently ratify the TPNW.