NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- A new wave of intense clashes erupted in the Tajoura district of eastern Tripoli, resulting in nine fatalities and 16 injuries, including one civilian. The violence broke out between two rival militia groups: the Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade and the Sabriya Martyrs Brigade, using light and medium weaponry. The confrontation caused widespread alarm among residents and highlighted the ongoing instability in Libya’s capital. The clashes were triggered by an assassination attempt on Bashir Khalafallah, the commander of the Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade, also known as “Al-Baqara.” The attack, carried out by an armed faction affiliated with the Sabriya Martyrs Brigade, left Khalafallah seriously injured. He was initially admitted to intensive care but later reported to be stable, according to the Rahbat al-Duru’ Brigade’s media office.
- Clashes erupted between two armed groups in Tajoura, marked by gunfire from light and medium weapons before and during Friday prayers. Residents in the area are currently experiencing heightened anxiety due to the violence. According to local sources speaking to Al-Wasat Gate, the conflict involves the “Rabeh al-Duroo” Brigade, led by Khalifa Bashir Khalifa, known as “Bashir the Cow,” and the “Sabriya” Brigade. Both groups are major armed factions based in Tajoura, a district located ten kilometers east of Tripoli and adjacent to the Mitiga Airbase and airport. Similar clashes occurred between these factions in mid-July, resulting in civilian casualties and other material damage.
- On Thursday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) facilitated two significant Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) flights this week. On August 6, 2024, a flight departed from Sabha, transporting 163 migrants to Lagos, Nigeria. The following day, another flight carried 129 migrants to Mali. These VHR flights offer crucial opportunities for migrants to return safely to their home countries and rebuild their lives with dignity. These operations provide essential opportunities for migrants to return safely to their home countries and rebuild their lives with dignity.
- The Illegal Immigration Control Agency announced on Wednesday the deportation of 15 irregular migrants from the city of Benghazi. The agency’s branch in Benghazi oversaw the deportation process, with all deportees being Bangladeshi nationals. The deportation was carried out through Benina International Airport to their home country, according to the agency’s statement on its Facebook page. On August 1, the Illegal Immigration Control Agency announced the deportation of 65 irregular Egyptian migrants through the Imsaad Land Crossing.
- A devastating road accident occurred south of Kufra, resulting in the death of six individuals and injuring 32 others, including ten in critical condition, all of whom are Sudanese refugees. According to Ibrahim Balhasan, the head of Emergency and Ambulance Services in Kufra, the incident happened when a Tundra vehicle, carrying a large number of Sudanese refugees, veered off the road in the desert area, approximately 120 kilometers south of the city. Immediately after the accident, three ambulances were dispatched to transport the injured to the city for necessary medical treatment.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- Acting UN Envoy to Libya, Stephanie Khouri, emphasized the necessity of having a workable framework for national elections in Libya. This was discussed during her meeting with the Head of the Libyan High National Elections Commission, Dr. Emad Al-Sayeh. Khouri, through her post on the social media platform “X,” stated that the meeting reviewed the progress of the municipal council elections. She praised the Commission’s success in conducting these elections so far and stressed the importance of continued institutional support.
- Emad Al-Sayeh, Head of the Libyan High National Elections Commission, welcomed the US Special Envoy to Libya, Mr. Richard Norland, and his accompanying delegation at the Commission’s headquarters in Tripoli. The visit by the US Special Envoy to Libya is aimed at supporting the electoral process. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the preparations for the upcoming municipal council elections.
- The Libyan High Council of State (HCS) is set to hold crucial elections for its presidency and executive office members on Tuesday, August 6. This vote comes at a critical juncture, with the need for decisive leadership to foster political stability in Libya. Leading candidates for the HCS presidency have been identified as Khaled Al-Mishri, Mohamed Takala, and Adel Karmous. Additionally, candidates for the First Deputy position include Abkida Mohamed, Messaoud Abid, Abdul Muttalib Beqqas, Shukri Al-Amin, and Naji Mukhtar. For the Second Deputy position, the contenders are Khaled Al-Nadhouri, Omar Khaled Al-Obaidi, and Moussa Faraj.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- On Friday, the Libyan Embassy in Tunisia, represented by the Labor Attaché and the Assistant Trade Attaché, participated in a significant signing ceremony in Sousse, Tunisia. The partnership agreement involves the Libyan National Company for Supplying Fields and Ports, under the Libyan National Oil and Gas Corporation, and the Tunisian Workman Group, specialists in manufacturing safety and security equipment. This agreement aims to bolster economic cooperation by providing professional safety equipment and hospitality uniforms for employees in the Libyan oil and gas sector, adhering to Libyan standards and regulations.
- Rafik Mohammed Al-Fakhri, Advisor to the Libyan Chairman of the Competition and Anti-Monopoly Council, met with Jamil Zayed, Head of the Jordanian Directorate of Competition and Anti-Monopoly Practices in Amman today, Monday, August 5. The meeting was initiated under the direction of Salama Ibrahim Al-Ghweil, the Libyan Chairman, who is keen to leverage Jordan’s leading experience in the field of competition, particularly as the Jordanian Directorate is considered a regional model in the Arab world.
- Najat Al-Shaief, the Director of Consular Affairs at the Foreign Ministry at the Government of National Unity (GNU), hosted Maltese Consul Jonathan Engerer and his deputy, Gabriel Camenzuli, at the ministry’s headquarters. According to a statement from the Dbeibah Foreign Ministry, the meeting focused on discussing several important issues and challenges faced by the Libyan community residing in Malta and some Maltese nationals in Libya. Both sides agreed and coordinated efforts to diligently resolve these difficulties, working with relevant authorities in both friendly nations.
- Libyan Prime Minister of the Parliament-designate government, Osama Hammad has stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation between Libya and African countries through joint projects to achieve common strategic goals. This came during a meeting with the Minister of African Affairs, Issa Abdulmajid, at the Cabinet Headquarters in Benghazi. Hammad was also briefed on the latest developments in neighbouring countries and the outcomes of the Abdulmajid’s recent visits to these African nations, including the most recent visit to Guinea-Bissau.
