NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
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A boat carrying Syrian immigrants sank off the coast of the capital Tripoli early Thursday, while a fisherman was able to rescue three of them. Rescue groups said there were 25 Syrian immigrants on board the boat, and shared footage on social media that showed a fisherman rescuing three immigrants, two of whom appeared to be extremely exhausted, while the third said that they were from the Syrian province of Daraa, thanking the fisherman for saving them from death. Rescue groups indicated that many of the immigrants were missing, including women and children, noting that fishermen succeeded in rescuing three.
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Members of the Western Region Directorate Support Force of Zuwara Branch raided assembly point for illegal immigrants of different African nationalities in the city. The security members provided the necessary humanitarian, medical and relief assistance to the immigrants, and all necessary legal measures were taken.
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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Libya has announced that 604 migrants, including 34 women and 11 children, were intercepted and returned to the Libyan coasts during the period from November 10 to 16. The IOM stated that seven bodies were recovered, while 54 others are still missing. According to the IOM, 20,231 migrants have been intercepted off the Libyan coast so far in 2024, 515 migrants were killed, and 830 others went missing.
- The Libyan Parties’ Assembly has raised concerns about the growing threat of illegal migration to Libya’s national security. It accused the European Union (EU) of attempting to transform Libya from a transit country into a permanent settlement hub for migrants. In a statement, the assembly criticised a recent remark by the EU Ambassador to Libya, Nicola Orlando, who claimed that 87% of migrants had been voluntarily returned to Libya. However, the assembly argued that many were forced back as part of the EU’s hidden agenda to settle them in Libya. “The so-called Mattei Plan promoted by the Italian government is just one of these schemes, which all Libyans must work to thwart,” the statement added. It further highlighted reports indicating that the number of African migrants in Libya has exceeded three million, with their presence continuing to rise. The assembly expressed concern over the lack of accurate data on migrants in the country.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) praised the successful conduct of municipal elections in the first group of 58 councils, describing it as a pivotal step toward reinforcing democracy in the country. The polls, which recorded a remarkable 74% voter turnout, showcased the commitment of Libyan citizens to shaping their local governance and advancing national stability. In a statement, UNSMIL congratulated the Libyan people for their active participation and commended the High National Election Commission (HNEC) for organizing a well-structured, inclusive, and technically sound electoral process. The mission also recognized the critical role of security forces in ensuring a safe and secure environment for the elections to proceed smoothly.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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Taher Al-Baour, acting head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with Dutch Ambassador Joost Klarenbeek to discuss enhancing bilateral ties and addressing shared concerns. Ambassador Klarenbeek commended the organization of Libya’s recent municipal elections, expressing his satisfaction with the process. The meeting also focused on preparations for a visit by a delegation from the Dutch Foreign Ministry to Tripoli, planned for early December 2024.
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Foreign Minister Al-Taher Al-Baour met with Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Libya, Hassan Ibrahim Musa, to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. The meeting focused on the outcomes of Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah’s recent visit to Addis Ababa, which included reactivating the Joint High Committee between the two countries. Discussions also covered plans to sign additional agreements and memorandums of understanding to advance shared interests.
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The Libyan-Turkish Security Cooperation Committee held its second meeting at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior in Tripoli, headed by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity, Major General Mahmoud Saeed, and the Deputy Minister of Interior of Turkey, Münir Karaloğlu, and attended by members of the committee from both countries. The Libyan Ministry of Interior said that the meeting discussed ways to enhance and follow up on security cooperation between the two countries, discuss issues of common interest, and activate the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the field of law enforcement and training that was recently signed in Istanbul, including the exchange of expertise, development of training programs, and raising the efficiency of security cadres.
