Oct. 19, Libyan Oil Ministry refers NOC head Mustafa Sanalla for administrative investigation over allegations of failure to comply with procedures, controls.
Oct. 23, SOHR reports Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries transfer from/to Libya halted.
Oct. 21, LNA Cmdr.-in-Chief Haftar meets Egypt FM Shoukry in Benghazi focusing on Egypt support to Libya’s stability.
First group of UN ceasefire monitors deployed since Oct. 10, UN Libya Envoy reports Oct. 20.
Oct. 21, Tripoli hosts Libya stability int’l conference with 30 delegations attending.
TRIPOLI
- Oct. 18, Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) condemned the kidnapping of two of its employees, and demanded their immediate release. In a statement, the NOC confirmed the disappearance of two of its employees in mysterious circumstances Oct. 17. The two have been identified as Khaled Al-Ati, Head of the management committee of the Libyan Oil Institute, and Medhat Al-Zayani an employee of Akakos Oil Operations Company.
SEBHA
- Oct. 23, the Head of Libya’s Supreme Judicial Council said that unidentified gunmen assaulted the Director of the Sebha District Prosecution, Nasr Abdel Hafeez. This occurred as he was returning from a work assignment related to following up on some cases with the security authorities.
POLITICS & SOCIAL ISSUES
- Oct. 24, Libya’s High National Election Commission (HNEC) head, Emad al-Sayeh said the registration for candidates in Libya’s presidential and parliamentary elections will be opened in November, after technical and logistical preparations are completed. He confirmed that the first round of the presidential elections will take place on December 24, while the second round will take place simultaneously with the parliamentary elections;
- Cousin of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, Ahmed Gaddaf Al-Dam, said that the body of Gaddafi , who was killed 10 years ago will be handed over to his family, and a funeral will be held for him. Ahmed Gaddaf Al-Dam did not mention a specific date for receiving the remains of his cousin;
- Libya’s Administrative Control Authority has issued its report on the performance of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) for the year 2020. The report monitored a number of violations, most of which were related to abuse of positions, in addition to a financial shortfall in sales expenses. According to the report, the financial deficit in foreign sales amounted to over USD 4,5 m. It also indicated that the exchange rate reached 106%, with an increase of more than LYD 80 m, while the actual exchange rate for some items was found to be at 0%;
- Oct. 19, the Libyan Oil Ministry has referred Mustafa Sanalla, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), for administrative investigation. In its decision, the ministry accused Sanalla of failing to comply with the set procedures and controls in obtaining prior permission from the Minister of Oil and Gas when undertaking any official assignment. As well as failing to provide the necessary reports on business assignments inside the country.
NATIONAL SECURITY & ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
- Oct. 23, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that the transfer operations of Turkish-backed Syrian mercenaries from and to Libya have been suspended. Last week, the SOHR reported that over the past few days a number of Syrian mercenaries returned to Syria and were replaced with a new group of Syrian fighters, in a regular exchange process. The SOHR pointed out that an estimated 7,000 Syrian mercenaries are stationed in Libya. Their commanders have begun providing salaries to these fighters, estimated at TRY 2,500 (USD 300) each. This is following a threat of rebellion and broad discontent over delayed payments;
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced Oct. 21 that it has resumed humanitarian flights from Libya, and has safely repatriated 127 stranded Gambian migrants. The Gambian migrants were among thousands waiting to go home through IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) programme. Thursday’s flight successfully returned the 117 men, five women, and five children from Libya’s Misrata airport to the Gambian capital of Banjul;
- Oct. 21, LNA chief, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar held a meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry in Benghazi. The meeting comes on the sidelines of Shoukry’s participation in the Libya Stabilisation Conference in Tripoli. During the meeting, Shoukry stated that Egypt stands firmly alongside the Libyan people in working towards stability. He stressed that this will be achieved only after ensuring the complete withdrawal of all mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya;
- The first group of United Nations (UN) ceasefire monitors have been deployed starting Oct. 10, the UN Envoy for Libya said Oct. 20. In a letter to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), Ján Kubiš said the monitors will settle in Tripoli during the first period until the arrangements for their deployment in Sirte are completed. “The ceasefire monitors will work in cooperation with the JMC and the Libyan parties concerned under Security Council Resolution 2570 of 2021,” he noted.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Oct. 24, the White House announced that US Vice President, Kamala Harris will speak at the 4th Paris Peace Forum on November 11 and will attend the Paris Conference on Libya the following day. During her trip to Paris, the US Vice President will also meet with French President, Emmanuel Macron;
- Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio stated that the stability of Libya would ensure the safety of Europe. He also stressed the need to ensure peace and development in the country. The Italian FM continued: “We can combat terrorism and uncontrolled migration flows in Europe by pursuing two central goals, parliamentary and presidential elections at the end of the year, and the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement”;
- Oct. 22, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit stated that he valued the convening of the Libya Stability Conference for the first time in the country. He added that the Libyan people are looking for stability after more than a decade of crises;
- Oct. 21, Greece Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias stated that Greece was taking part in Libya’s normalization process without any ulterior motives. In his speech during the Libya Stabilisation Conference held in Tripoli Oct. 21, the minister stressed that, “there exists a timetable which includes specific actions: firstly, to hold free elections, and secondly, to see the withdrawal of foreign troops and mercenaries from Libya”;
- Oct. 21, Kuwait Foreign Minister, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Sabah called for the gradual and simultaneous removal of all mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya, stressing the need to ensure the security and stability of Libya. During his speech at the opening ceremony of the Libya Stabilisation Conference, he affirmed Kuwait’s commitment to the unity and sovereignty of Libya, and its rejection of foreign interference in Libyan affairs;
- Oct. 21, Tripoli hosted an international conference to help build stability in Libya ahead of the presidential elections planned for December. Around 30 delegations travelled to the capital Tripoli. Among them are representatives from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and the Arab League, (AL) according to the AFP. French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, attended, including officials from regional powers including the United States, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Algeria;
- Oct. 21, The Commander-in-Chief of Italy Gendarmerie (Carabinieri), Lieutenant General Teo Luzi said Rome is planning to start new stabilization activities in Libya in the future. “Despite the fact that the factions continue to be divided, his forces have prepared a five-year plan from 2021 to 2025 to support stability in Libya,” Luzi said during a hearing before the joint foreign and defense committees on the international deployment of his forces;
- Oct. 20, the British Embassy issued statements in support of the electoral process in Libya, which is scheduled to take place on 24 December. After the United Nations reiterated its positive positions on the elections, and the need for mercenaries to withdraw from the country, the British Ambassador, Caroline Hurndall, announced her support for the Libyan High National Elections Commission (HNEC);
- Oct. 19, German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas stressed that Libya is approaching a very critical stage with the elections due to be held on 24 December. In statements published by the German Information Center Arab World, Heiko Maas said: “I just came from breakfast with the Libyan Foreign Minister. We are now at a very crucial stage in Libya. 24 December is approaching, the day when elections must take place. We have made this very clear to our colleague that this is what the Libyan people want.” He added that the postponement of the elections would inevitably question the legitimacy of the current government, “so it is important that these elections take place as planned.”;
- Oct. 19, Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi attended a tripartite summit with Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades in Athens. In a joint press conference, President El-Sisi stated that today’s meeting was a good opportunity to discuss regional and international developments, especially in the eastern Mediterranean region.
