NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- A news report has confirmed a slight decrease in irregular migrant arrivals. The number of migrants crossing the central Mediterranean has dropped by 1% so far in 2025. The report cited data from Frontex, the EU’s border agency. It stated that total irregular entries into Europe have fallen by 25%. Chronic instability in Libya remains a key factor on this migration route. About 90% of irregular migrants who crossed the central Mediterranean departed from Libyan territory. Frontex acknowledged the situation has not fundamentally changed compared to the same period last year. The report noted a significant increase in departures from Libya. This rise has offset the decrease in departures from Tunisia and Algeria. Controversial cooperation with the Libyan Coast Guard has not stopped the crossings. Over 90% of irregular migrants continue to use the central Mediterranean route starting from western Libya.
- A news report has revealed the arrest of Mohammed Nazir Mozaffar Ali. He is a key member of an international human trafficking and migrant smuggling network. According to the Bangladeshi newspaper ‘The Business Standard’, Mozaffar Ali is linked to a gang. This gang smuggles undocumented migrants to Europe through Libya. The report stated that Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department arrested Ali. He had lured two Bangladeshi men with false promises of high-paying jobs in Greece. He then smuggled them to Libya. There, they were tortured and held for ransom. Mozaffar Ali was arrested near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. He arranged for the two men to be flown to Libya last July via Dubai and Egypt. They were supposed to go to Greece but were instead handed over to an armed gang in Libya.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
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The Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Armed Forces, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has welcomed the holding of the third group of municipal council elections for 2025. The polls took place in several municipalities, including Benghazi, Sabha, Sirte, Tobruk, Tukra, Al-Abyar, Qasr al-Jidi, Qaminis, and Suluq. Marshal Haftar commended the efforts of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), as well as the various security and executive agencies instrumental in securing the electoral process.
- The Chairman of the High National Elections Commission, Emad Al-Sayeh, received French officials. The meeting took place at the commission’s headquarters. Al-Sayeh met with Alexis Andres, the Deputy Director for North Africa and the Middle East at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. He was accompanied by Thierry Valla, the French Ambassador to Libya. They discussed the latest preparations for the country’s electoral process. The talks focused on the municipal council elections (Group Three 2025). They also covered the anticipated general elections. Al-Sayeh outlined the commission’s technical and logistical readiness. He detailed plans for training and the distribution of electoral materials. He affirmed the commission’s commitment to holding transparent elections that meet international standards.
- The Head of the State Property Authority, Abdulmonem Aghliw, has allocated land to the Benghazi Municipal Education Controller. The decision was made during a meeting on Thursday. The plots will be used to build several kindergartens in the city. The Benghazi Education Controller stated this step is part of the Development and Reconstruction Fund’s efforts. The fund supports educational projects and works to improve the school environment. These actions aim to achieve sustainable development goals.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, received a high-level military delegation from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the General Command headquarters in Benghazi. The delegation was led by Brigadier General Naji Abduljalil Al-Manaseer, Assistant Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Operations and Training, as part of the visit being conducted by the brotherly Jordanian delegation to the General Command of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
- The Libyan government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Greek Consul. Athanasios Anastopoulos and his deputy were called in. The summons followed recent statements by Greek officials. Libya considered these remarks an infringement on its sovereignty and national interests. Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulhadi Al-Hweij met with the consul at the ministry’s headquarters in Benghazi. He conveyed Libya’s official rejection of the statements. The remarks were described as irresponsible.
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Haftar is the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army. The meeting was attended by Major General Hassan Rashad, head of the General Intelligence Service. Also present were General Khaled Khalifa, Chief of General Staff, and General Saddam Khalifa, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the LNA. According to the Egyptian presidential spokesperson, the talks affirmed the deep relationship between Egypt and Libya. President El-Sisi stressed Egypt’s full support for Libya’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He praised the pivotal role of the Libyan army’s leadership. El-Sisi also emphasized the need to counter foreign interference. He called for the expulsion of all foreign forces and mercenaries from the country. For his part, Marshal Haftar expressed appreciation for Egypt’s role. He praised President El-Sisi’s leadership in restoring security and stability in Libya. Haftar noted the continuous support for the Libyan people since the crisis began. He affirmed his commitment to ongoing coordination on developments in Libya and the region.
