NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Libya has helped 80,000 migrants return home voluntarily and safely since 2015 under its Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) program, the Organization announced. “VHR has been a critical lifeline for stranded migrants from 49 different countries across Africa and Asia, offering them a safe and dignified way to return home and rebuild their lives,” IOM said in a statement. The migrants who benefited from VHR included 2,733 victims of trafficking, 843 unaccompanied or separated children and 5,144 migrants with medical needs, the statement pointed out.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The Voice of the People Party, a major political group in Libya, has strongly rejected accusations of migrant abuse made against the country in a report from the outgoing prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
In a statement, the party denounced the report’s claims as “unfounded accusations” that aim to undermine Libya’s sovereignty and mar its international reputation. Spokesman stated the allegations “have no basis in fact” and accused the report of politicized bias.
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The Voice of the People Party, a prominent political group in Libya, has strongly condemned the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) decision to establish an official presence in the North African nation. In a statement released, the party voiced its vehement opposition to the ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s recent briefing to the UN Security Council, where he unveiled plans for the Court to open an office in the Libyan capital, Tripoli. The Voice of the People Party calls this move a “flagrant interference” in Libya’s sovereignty and an overreach of the ICC’s mandate, as Libya is not a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the Court’s jurisdiction.
- The Russian Embassy in Libya announced yesterday on its social media account (X, formerly Twitter) that it will resume its consular section work from Tripoli as of 1 June. The embassy said that it will take a temporary location at Tripoli’s Mahary Raddisonblu hotel.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- The activities of the 2nd edition of the Bosnian-Libyan Partnership Day (20 to 24 May) were launched in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, the Libyan Iron and Steel Company (LISCO) reported. The event is held in cooperation with the Bosnian Foreign Chamber of Commerce and International University of Sarajevo. LISCO is a leading sponsor. In his opening address, the head of the delegation of LISCO, Chairman Mohammed Abdul Malik Al-Fagih, called on Bosnian companies to work and invest in the Libyan industrial sector, specifically in the iron and steel industry, as well as other industries and fields.
