UN briefing cites audit findings of large fuel diversion and pharmaceutical conflicts in Libya

An agency official told the United Nations Security Council that recent reports by the National Audit Bureau and the National Anti-Corruption Commission document systemic governance deficits in Libya’s fuel and pharmaceutical sectors.

The official cited extraordinary and unexplained increases in fuel consumption between 2021 and 2024 recorded in the reports, saying these figures "strongly suggest large scale diversion of subsidized fuel." He cited a 621% rise in petrol withdrawals by public security entities, a 527% increase in diesel consumption by armed forces, a 203% increase in diesel used by the electricity sector and spikes of up to 368% at individual power plants.

On the pharmaceutical sector, the official said the reports identify conflicts of interest involving politically connected individuals and extraordinary growth in company import financing, and that some firms recorded very large percentage increases between 2022 and 2025 (the transcript's numeric phrasing for these increases is unclear). He urged Libyan authorities to act urgently on the reports' recommendations to strengthen transparency and tackle illicit fuel networks.

The official also welcomed recent steps toward a unified development program and unified budget and said a joint technical committee met on May 15 to begin implementing a unified spending framework for 2026. He said such fiscal coordination must be backed by sustained delivery, strong oversight and enhanced transparency.