Intl. Recognition

Very few oil industry professionals have ever received formal acknowledgment from the United Nations Security Council. However, Imad Ben Rajab stands out as one of them.

In July 2019, Libya’s Presidency Council appointed him as the official focal point under Security Council Resolution 2146 (2014). His mission was to monitor and stop illegal petroleum exports. In this critical role, he collaborated directly with the UN Panel of Experts, regularly submitting reports on crude oil and refined fuel smuggling attempts. As a result, he became central to international efforts to protect Libya’s oil wealth.

Because of his contributions, the UN Security Council formally recognized his role during official proceedings. Council members emphasized that without a functioning focal point, the UN Sanctions Committee struggled to oversee Libya’s petroleum exports. Furthermore, they noted a sharp rise in fuel smuggling following his detention.

“We continue to be deeply concerned about the detention of Mr. Imad Ben Rajab. Without a focal point, the Sanctions Committee’s ability to carry out its responsibilities is threatened, and we are concerned about reports of increased fuel smuggling since Mr. Ben Rajab’s arrest.”

(UNSC report, S/2023/720, para. 72)

For those interested, you can Watch the video of the 9351st meeting.