NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- The Western Coastal Military Region, under the Presidential Council, has launched a large-scale military operation in Al-Zawiya and neighboring coastal cities. The operation targets what authorities describe as “suspicious locations” and criminal hideouts. Residents have been urged to avoid these areas to ensure their safety as forces move to impose security and restore stability. The military command has declared its determination to eradicate organized crime and chaotic elements in the region. In a statement released on their official channels, they emphasized the readiness of their forces, equipped with all necessary resources, to dismantle criminal networks and put an end to instability.
- Eastern Libya’s security forces have detained 75 irregular migrants following a high-speed chase near the Al-Uwainat region, close to the Sudanese border. According to the Department of Relations and Cooperation in eastern Libya, several other migrants managed to escape into Sudan. The operation was initiated after receiving intelligence about vehicles transporting migrants attempting to enter Libya through Al-Uwainat. In response, Major General Salah Mahmoud Al-Khafifi, head of the Anti-Illegal Migration Agency, deployed desert patrol units to intercept the vehicles, coordinating with the Southeast Security Operations Room. After a three-hour pursuit, authorities apprehended three vehicles carrying 75 migrants. However, additional vehicles fled across the border into Sudan. The exact number of escapees remains unclear.
- A tragic incident has left 20 migrants missing after a small boat capsized due to water leakage off the coast of Libya. According to a report by The Guardian, the boat, which departed from the coastal city of Zuwara, encountered trouble just hours into its journey. The report detailed that seven survivors managed to reach Italy’s Lampedusa Island following the disaster, which occurred approximately 20 miles off the Libyan coast. The 6-meter-long vessel departed Zuwara at 10 p.m. on December 30 with 27 migrants onboard. The tragedy unfolded five hours later when water began leaking into the dilapidated boat, causing it to capsize and throwing 20 people into the rough sea.
- Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has arrested nine individuals accused of human smuggling, linked to the recent boat tragedies off the coasts of Libya and Greece. The FIA spokesperson confirmed the arrests on Monday, emphasising the crackdown on trafficking networks. The accused were apprehended in Gujranwala and Gujarat, according to Daily Ausaf newspaper. Among them is Zafar Iqbal, a notorious trafficker involved in sending minors abroad. Iqbal allegedly took Rs1.9 million and €2,300 to smuggle a child to Italy via Libya. He was arrested in Mandi Bahauddin. Another suspect, Shahzad Yousuf, linked to the Libyan boat capsizing, was detained in Kharian. Yousuf reportedly extorted Rs2.3 million to facilitate illegal migration to Italy through Libya. Similarly, Azmat Ali was arrested for taking Rs5 million from a victim of the Greece boat tragedy.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, called on members of parliament to attend an official session scheduled for Monday at the HoR headquarters in Benghazi.
The session will focus on holding the parliament-designated government, headed by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, accountable for its actions and accomplishments during 2024, as well as examining its strategic plans for 2025. According to Abdullah Bliheg, spokesperson for the HoR, the government is expected to present a detailed report outlining its achievements over the past year and its roadmap for addressing critical national challenges in the upcoming year. In addition to this key focus, the session will also cover other items on the parliament’s agenda, though their specifics remain undisclosed. Saleh’s decision to summon the government underscores the parliament’s commitment to oversight and transparency, essential elements for addressing Libya’s political and economic difficulties. This session marks a critical moment in ensuring that the government is held accountable to the Libyan people and to the legislative body that appointed it.
- The election of Al-Zaira Al-Maqtouf as Libya’s first female mayor has set social media ablaze with a storm of reactions, ranging from enthusiastic support to fervent opposition. Her groundbreaking victory as mayor of Zliten Municipality has become a viral topic, exposing a nation deeply divided over the role of women in leadership. In a statement, The High National Elections Commission (HNEC) announced on that this victory is a testament to the efforts of its Women’s Support Unit, which has worked tirelessly to create optimal conditions for women’s participation in elections. The unit aims to increase women’s representation in municipal councils, encourage candidacy, and advocate for recognizing women’s leadership capabilities. The commission described Al-Maqtouf’s victory as a significant milestone, highlighting Libyan women’s ability to engage in political competition and succeed with integrity and credibility. “This win represents an important shift in Libya’s history, showcasing a model of female leadership that we proudly present to the democratic world,” the HNEC stated.
- Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) exposed a series of grave human rights violations committed across Libya in December 2024. Security forces, armed groups, and military factions are implicated in widespread abuses against civilians, with authorities in both eastern and western Libya failing to act against these violations. One of the most harrowing cases involved the death of 44-year-old Adel Abdel Salam Muftah Al-Warfalli. He died from injuries inflicted during torture at the Department of Information and General Investigations in Ajdabiya, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior under the House of Representatives-backed government. Al-Warfalli was hospitalized on December 6 due to a brain hemorrhage caused by the abuse and passed away nine days later. LCW also documented two cases of arbitrary detention. Human rights activist Haitham Al-Warfalli, 34, was arrested in Benghazi and held for four days without due process before being released on December 19.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- German government announced its decision to renew several military missions abroad, including the EU-led Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean Sea. The operation is critical for stabilizing Libya and enforcing the United Nations-imposed arms embargo on the country. Despite more than 600 ship inspections since the mission’s inception, Germany pointed out that arms embargo violations in Libya persist. The German government emphasized that maintaining a naval presence remains the most effective way to curb these breaches and ensure compliance in international waters. In addition to enforcing the arms embargo, German naval forces contribute valuable intelligence to the European Union, particularly about human trafficking networks operating in the Mediterranean. Although Operation IRINI is not designed for search-and-rescue missions, German forces have played a humanitarian role when needed, assisting people in distress at sea.
- Dr Ezzeddin Al-Darsi, President of Benghazi University, met with the Turkish Consul in Benghazi, Serkan Karamanlioglu, to explore avenues for academic cooperation between the university and Turkish institutions. The meeting was also attended by Dr Ahmed Saad, Director of the International Cooperation Office at the university. Discussions centred on collaborative initiatives, beginning later this month with a visit from a delegation of Turkish universities. The delegation is expected to present scholarship opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate students, funded by the Turkish government. Dr Al-Darsi proposed expanding the university’s language programme by incorporating Turkish language courses within the Department of European and Asian Languages at the Faculty of Languages. He also suggested sending Arabic language specialists from Benghazi University to teach at Turkish educational institutions.
- Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Libyan House of Representatives, Youssef Al-Agouri, held a virtual meeting with the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Libya, Jeremy Prent, to discuss key international developments and shared concerns. The discussions addressed issues related to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), regional updates, particularly in Syria and Sudan, and their implications for Libya. Al-Agouri emphasized the importance of addressing economic challenges due to their significant impact on the lives of Libyan citizens. He affirmed the House of Representatives’ readiness to draft and discuss necessary legislation, highlighting the value of leveraging international expertise in this domain. Reiterating the House of Representatives’ stance, Al-Agouri voiced strong opposition to any foreign military presence in Libya. He called for continued efforts to maintain the ceasefire agreement and prevent security breaches to ensure peace across the nation.
- The General Staff of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the activation of joint military training with Algeria’s army. The session, hosted at the Training Administration headquarters, was attended by the Director of Training, the Border Guard Commander, the Counter-Terrorism Force Commander, the Algerian military attaché to Libya, and several officers from the Training Administration’s Scholarship Division, according to a statement by the General Staff. Discussions centred on resuming joint training for Libyan and Algerian military personnel, building on prior agreements between the two nations. The initiative seeks to strengthen military cooperation and enhance the operational capabilities of both forces.
