NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- The Libyan Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of three migrants who drowned off the country’s coast after their boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry of the Government of National Unity.
- A rubber boat carrying dozens of Europe-bound migrants sank off the coast of Libya and at least 55 people drowned, including women and children, the UN migration agency said Wednesday. It was the latest tragedy in this part of the Mediterranean Sea, a key route for migrants.
- The city of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, witnessed popular protests following the circulation of videos that activists claim to show “youth being tortured by African mercenaries inside the headquarters of one of the militias.” The widely circulated videos on social media showed “scenes of torture, beating, and whipping of a number of young people and insults directed at them.” There were reports of “the killing of one of the victims by his torturers, who also kidnapped his brother.” Meanwhile, a group of young people blocked the coastal highway in Zawiya, as seen in another circulating video.
- The escalating number of irregular migrants entering Libya has sparked concerns among several nations. With land boundaries spanning approximately 4,348 kilometers and sea borders extending over 1,700 kilometers, Libya has emerged as a preferred transit point for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
- Over 100 Libyans, who were evacuated from Sudan a few days ago, are set to arrive in Tripoli tonight, announced the Government of National Unity. The nationals will arrive via flight of the Afriqiyah Airways, a Libyan state-owned airline, from Jeddah Airport to Mitiga Airport in Tripoli on Tuesday night.
- Armed groups in Zawiya, a city in northwestern Libya, ceased fighting after clashes erupted overnight causing the death of four people, according to the Ambulance and Emergency Service. The armed groups, both of which are reportedly affiliated with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity, clashed at the city’s entrance and nearby residential areas.
- The Libyan authorities evacuated in early Monday morning, April 24, 105 Libyan nationals from Sudan as fierce fighting continues in the neighboring country. In a statement, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said that the nationals were evacuated via sea to Saudi Arabia in coordination with the Saudi authorities. The group included Libyan diplomatic staff and their families, Libyan students, and employees of Libyan institutions operating in Sudan, the ministry said.
- Four people were killed following clashes between two armed groups in Zawiya, a city in northwestern Libya, according to a statement by the Ambulance and Emergency Service on Monday, April 24. Clashes erupted overnight at the western entrance to the city and continued until Monday dawn before the warring parties declared truce, said the Ambulance and Emergency Service.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- Member of the Libyan House of Representatives Talal Al-Mihoub has warned of the potential significant impact on Libya due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Speaking to the press, Al-Mihoub stated that the situation in Sudan could have serious repercussions for Libya, and that the country must take measures to protect its borders.
- Libya Crimes Watch, a non-governmental organizations, said on Tuesday that it holds the Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, responsible for the violent clashes that took place Sunday night and continued until Monday morning in the Libyan city of Zawiya.
- Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, has urged security leaders to “align with the people’s demands for the electoral milestones.” He emphasized that the Ministry of Interior and its components have demonstrated “complete readiness to secure the elections in all cities, with the security simulation in Tripoli serving as the best evidence.”
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Ireland will deploy a single Naval Service patrol vessel to Operation IRINI for a period of 46 days during June and July this year in order to help enforce a UN arms embargo on Libya, which was introduced in 2020 to preserve peace in the country after the end of the second Libyan civil war. The proposal was presented by Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin to his country’s lower house, known as Dáil Éireann, last Tuesday, April 25. The following day, the Dáil approved it.
- Hassan Al-Sughayer, the former Interim Government’s Deputy Foreign Minister, has stated that it is difficult to measure the objective size of any support Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi receives, given the ambiguity surrounding his movements and life. He ruled out the possibility of a real alliance between Saif Gaddafi and Russia.
- The Reconstruction and Stability Committee in the city of Benghazi has announced the start of preliminary work to construct four bridges in the city. The committee signed an agreement with the Egyptian company, Wadi Al-Nile, for a six-month implementation period. Two of the bridges will be constructed between the intersection of Venice Street and Al-Hawari Road, while the third bridge will be constructed with a tunnel at the intersection of Airport Road and the Al-Masakin neighborhood.
