NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- Turkey has resumed the back-and-forth transfer of Syrian mercenaries operating in Libya following the decision in late June to halt the transfer process until the end of 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) revealed on Wednesday that nearly 250 Syrian mercenaries were sent back to Syria from Libya via Turkey. Most of the repatriated individuals are wounded and sick fighters operating under the banner of “Al-Sultan Murad, Soqur al-Shamal, Suleiman Shah, Al-Hamza Division, Al-Majd Corps” and other pro-Turkish factions.
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The UN Security Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to extend the mandate of the Panel of Experts on the Libya Sanctions Committee until November 2023. The vote also included a resolution condemning attempts regarding the illegal export of Libyan oil. The Security Council expressed its grave concern about the continued violations of the arms embargo on Libya, including the continued flow of ammunition, vehicles, military equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts.
- A total of 299 migrants returned to Libya in one week and more than 10,200 this year, despite being considered a “safe” country, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported today. From 3 to 9 July, IOM registered the return of 299 migrants, including 16 minors, who were apprehended or rescued off the coast of Libya en route to Europe via the central Mediterranean.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The Libyan outgoing Prime Minister, Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, said the appointment of the new board of directors for the National Oil Corporation (NOC) came in agreement with several political parties, denying that any deal was made to change the former board headed by Mustafa Sanalla. Dbeibeh stressed that the talk about the deal was pure slander by parties that want to spoil political and social life. Dbeibeh, who attended NOC’s new board of directors meeting in Tripoli today, added that the appointment of Mustafa Sanalla to head NOC was not legal, referring to appointing him by the Undersecretary of the Oil Ministry of the former “National Salvation government” in 2014.
- The new Chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara, stressed that the Corporation will not be biased to any party to the political conflict. Bengdara said in press statements that NOC will be a tool for developing the oil sector to serve the Libyans. NOC Chairman added: “We assure everyone that the Corporation will be very transparent, as the revenues that it will receive will be announced.”
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The newly assigned Chairman of the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bengdara, has announced in a press conference the official assumption of his duties, replacing Mustafa Sanalla, who led NOC for about eight years. “I thank the Government of National Unity (GNU) for assigning a new board of directors for the Corporation, which will provide an integrated environment to lead this sector towards success,” Bengdara said. “Our priority will be to focus on activating governance systems and complying with the oil law,” he pointed. “It is necessary for Libya to restore its oil and gas export capacity, and this will be as soon as possible,” the new Chair added.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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Leaders at the Jeddah Summit for Security and Development reiterated in a final statement on Saturday the need for the departure of all foreign forces and fighters from Libya without delay. The final statement that included the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and the United States, reiterated support for efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis as per Security Council resolutions, especially 2570 and 2571, calling for holding parliamentary and presidential elections as soon as possible. The leaders renewed their support for the unification of military institutions under the supervision of the United Nations, expressing their appreciation for Egypt’s hosting of the Libyan constitutional dialogue which adds support to the political process backed by the United Nations.
- U.S. Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland met in Brazzaville with Congolese President Sassou N’Guesso, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High Level Committee on Libya “to reaffirm U.S. support of the AU Agenda”, according to U.S. Embassy in Libya. “The United States is supportive of efforts by Libya and its international partners to build a unified and inclusive government that can both secure the country and meet the economic and humanitarian needs of the Libyan people,” the Embassy said in a statement.
- “Italy and France share the goal of Libya’s unity and stability,” Italian Special Envoy to Libya Nicola Orlando affirmed on Monday. The Italian envoy made his remarks after meeting with his French counterpart Paul Soler in Paris today. Their talks focused on the “urgency of preserving the Libyan political process,” according to Orlando. “We are committed to working together to help the Libyans resolve the current impasse and go to elections,” he stated via Twitter.
- Britain’s Foreign Affairs Committee will hold tomorrow a “one-off evidence” session on the relationship between the UK and Libya with Prime Minister-designate Fathi Bashagha. The committee announced today that the session, which will take place at 2.30 PM UK time (3:30 Libya time), is “likely to cover a range of topics, including Libyan security, foreign policy and Mr Bashagha’s recently published “Road to Recovery”. Bashagha will appear virtually and with a translator, the committee said.
