At a UN Security Council meeting devoted to the situation in Libya, Britain's Permanent Representative to the UN Sarah MacIntosh presented an explanation of her country's position following the vote. Britain supported the decision to extend the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). According to MacIntosh, the updated mandate will allow the mission to more effectively facilitate advancement of the political process in the country, provided that the Libyan parties themselves play the leading role in it. She emphasized that the international community should support Libyan parties in seeking sustainable settlement without imposing external solutions. Libya has remained in a state of political instability since 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi's government was overthrown. Since then, the country has repeatedly experienced periods of armed conflict and division of power among various factions and administrations. The UN Support Mission in Libya plays a key role in mediation efforts aimed at unifying the country, holding elections, and restoring state institutions. The extension of UNSMIL's mandate is regarded as an important step for continuing international support for the peace process in Libya. Britain, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, traditionally plays an active role in discussions of the Libyan file and supports efforts toward political settlement of the conflict in the country.