Libya security highlights (December 27, 2021 – January 2, 2022)

Turkey gov’t still evading, maneuvering over Syrian mercenaries withdrawal, despite ongoing int’l calls for expulsion, SOHR says.

Dec. 28, Libya HoR passes motion designating UK Amb. Caroline Hurndall persona non grata over GNU-supporting statements.

Libya-detained US teacher Fernando Espinoza, 29, released, repatriated after mother launches int’l appeal campaign.

TOBRUK

• Dec. 27, the Libyan Parliament held a plenary session, during which the Head of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Sayeh, gave a briefing about the reasons behind the failure to hold last month’s Presidential elections as scheduled. Dozens of people staged peaceful protests in the vicinity of Parliament building, demanding a clear date to be set for the elections without any further delay.

NATIONAL POLITICS & SECURITY ISSUES

• A member of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) representing the Libyan National Army (LNA), Lieutenant-General Faraj Al-Sawsa denied the evacuation of 300 mercenaries from Libya. He said that no mercenaries had been evacuated from Libya. In press statements, Al-Sawsa explained that the committee is still meeting to set a date for the evacuation of mercenaries from Libya, since the agreed plan requires a simultaneous withdrawal from all areas;
• Jan. 1, Libya’s Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, called on the Ministry of Finance to provide the Public Prosecution with the reasons for transferring large amounts of money to various entities funded by the state’s Public Treasury beyond the budget items. In a statement, the Attorney General demanded those in charge of the Finance Ministry to clarify the reasons for transferring more than LYD 4m to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is an off-balance sheet item;
• Dec. 30, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that 177 asylum-seekers, including women and young children, have been evacuated from Libya to Niger. “In the last evacuation flight of the year out of Libya, UNHCR has brought 177 vulnerable asylum seekers to safety in Niger,” the UNHCR said in a statement. It is the second evacuation flight to Niger this year, since the Libyan authorities lifted a blanket ban on humanitarian flights in October;

• Nearly 300 refugees drowned in several boat accidents in the Mediterranean, off the Libyan coast in the week leading up to Christmas. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), dozens of refugees and migrants also perished in the Aegean Sea. It added that at least 1,887 people have drowned in the Mediterranean this year while seeking asylum in Europe;

• Dec. 29, Libya’s Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour ordered the detainment of the Minister of Culture, Mabrouka Tougi on allegations of corruption. This comes a week after Libya’s Education Minister, Moussa Al-Megarief was also arrested, as part of an inquiry into a lack of schoolbooks. In a statement, Al-Sour announced that Tougi would be jailed for four days on charges of “falsifying official documents in order to complicate the processes of review and oversight of public spending.”

• Dec. 28, 125 Libyan Parliamentary candidates signed a joint statement calling for adherence to Jan. 24 as the date for the Presidential elections in the country. The 125 candidates demanded the announcement of a preliminary list of candidates for the legislative elections, and the final lists of Presidential candidates. They also stressed the need to set 6 March 2022 as the date for voting for the second round, concurrent with the Parliamentary elections.
• Libya’s Interior Minister, Khaled Mazen met with members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), to discuss security arrangements for the 200-kilometer-long Coastal Road. The meeting was attended by Major General Ahmed Abu Shahma, Major General Mukhtar Al-Naqasa, Major General Mustafa Yahya, Major General Radwan Al-Gharari, and Director of the General Administration of Security Operations Major General Ali Al-Nuwaisri.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• Jan. 2, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, held a telephone conversation to discuss ways to boost their partnership, and a number of regional files especially with regard to the situation in Libya. In a statement, the Kremlin said that the two Presidents reviewed bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their determination to continue boosting mutually beneficial partnership between Russia and Turkey. According to the Kremlim, Putin and Erdoğan agreed on the importance of intensifying joint efforts and the coordination between Egypt and Russia to resolve the Libyan crisis and realize the ambitions of the Libyan people;
• The Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League, Hossam Zaki, said free elections that reflect the will of the Libyan people are the only way to get out of the Libyan crisis. However, he stressed that all Libyans should accept the results of the elections. In an interview with the Egyptian newspaper, Akhbar Al-Youm, the arab league official warned that not accepting the election results would become a big problem, and might open a door to instability;
• Jan. 1, the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR), Youssef Al-Agouri, held a virtual meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires of the Greek Embassy in Libya, Ioannis Stamatikos. They discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. During the talks, the diplomats also spoke about ways to factilitate travel procedures and open direct flights and navigation routes between the two countries;
• The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) confirmed that the Turkey government is still evading and maneuvering over the file of the withdrawal of Syrian mercenaries loyal to it from Libya. This despite the ongoing international calls for the expulsion of all foreign powers present. In a statement, the SOHR said that “the Turkey government is still insisting on keeping its mercenaries holding Syrian citizenship in Libya despite their continuous demands to return, as a result of their poor conditions, and the continued theft of their monthly dues.”;
• Jan. 1, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Libyan file was at the forefront of its priorities and diplomatic moves. On this file, it is in close coordination with other countries and with regional and international partners. Tunisia has also actively participated in efforts to support the political processes in Syria, Yemen and Sudan. In its concluding statement of its non-permanent membership in the Security Council (2020/2021), the Tunisian Foreign Ministry reiterated that it spared no efforts to defend Arab and African issues at the Security Council, especially with regard to the Libyan file;
• Turkey presidential Spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, claimed that the maritime and military agreements signed with the outgoing Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) are still valid. In an interview with Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, Kalin said that his country will continue to support the political process in Libya, including the elections;
• The Undersecretary of the Libyan Ministry of Interior, Mahmoud Saeed met with the Director of the Money Laundering Department of the Central Bank of Tunisia, Lotfi Hashisha in Tunis. They discussed ways to release Libya’s frozen funds, being held in Tunisia. The two parties discussed information exchanges, and cooperation to serve their bilateral interests. In June, the Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia, Marouane Abbasi said that Libya’s frozen funds in Tunisia are estimated at USD 140~150m;
• Alex Dalli, a controversial former prison Director has been named the Malta government’s Special Envoy to Libya, where he will deal with national security issues such as migration. Malta Home Affairs Minister, Byron Camilleri has stated that he will serve on the Malta-Libya Coordination Center for the fight against illegal migration. Camilleri claimed Dalli was picked because of his extensive military expertise;
• Dec. 30, the US affirmed its unwavering support for the Libyan people in setting a new date for the country’s Presidential elections. This is to meet their aspirations in preserving the independence and sovereignty of the country. In a press statement, the US Department of State Spokesman, Ned Price said that Washington will continue to work with its European and regional allies to make these goals a reality;

• The Spain Ambassador to Libya, Javier Larrache told the economic newspaper “Sada” that there is not much progress in terms of economic cooperation between Libya and Spain. Notably, he confirmed that they are “working with the Spanish-Libyan Chamber of Commerce, which is very active to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.” Larrache added that there are multi-field cooperation projects with Libya, apart from the supply of foodstuffs and building materials. He noted that there are also projects associated with the National Oil Corporation (NOC), reconstruction, and alternative energies;

• Dec. 28, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio held a meeting with Tunisian President, Kais Saied in Tunis. They discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional issues, especially with regard to the situation in Libya. During the talks, they discussed mechanisms to support Libya, and ways to promote peace, stability, and security in the country. Di Maio praised Tunisian efforts to stem the flow of illegal immigrants;

• Dec. 28, the Libyan Parliament has voted in favour of designating the British Ambassador to Tripoli, Caroline Hurndall, “persona non grata.” The Parliamentary Spokesman, Abdullah Blaiheg stated that they took the decision based on Hurndall’s recent statements. “The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be notified to take the necessary measures, and notify the concerned authorities.” The statement was made by the United Kingdom’s Embassy in Libya, claiming that it will continue to recognize the Government of National Unity (GNU), headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, “as the authority tasked with leading Libya to elections and does not endorse the establishment of parallel governments or institutions.”;

• An American teacher who was detained in Libya for more than six weeks has returned to the United States, after his mother launched an appeal to release the former US Navy submariner. Fernando Espinoza, 29, landed at New York’s JFK International Airport to a welcoming party that included his mother, Sara Espinoza, and executives from the nonprofit Richardson Center who negotiated his return;

• Dec. 27, Libya’s permanent representative to the Arab League, Abdel-Mutallab Thabet urged member states to provide continuous support for holding consensual Presidential and Parliamentary elections. In a statement, the Libyan diplomat stressed the need to hold intensive and continuous meetings to closely follow up on the political situì9.òation in Libya, and ensure its safety via elections. Thabet also praised the Arab League’s Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit’s great interest in Libya, noting tha98’I’-0t the League could play an important role in supporting the country’s political process.