NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- An Egyptian commercial ship sank off of Tobruk, eastern Libya, due to severe weather conditions, according to the Al-Abireen Foundation, an organisation providing migrant assistance and humanitarian services. The foundation reported that six out of nine sailors aboard the Egyptian vessel were successfully rescued and are reportedly in good health. The rescue was carried out by the Navy’s special operations unit, part of the Libyan National Army. However, search operations remain underway for the three sailors who are still missing. The Libyan Navy’s special operations team, known as the Frogman Unit, is continuing to lead the search and rescue efforts amid challenging weather conditions.
- Since April 2023, Libya has witnessed a significant influx of Sudanese refugees, with estimates indicating that over 101,479 individuals have crossed into the country, according to the UN ReliefWeb. According to recent updates, 30,707 of these refugees were registered post-conflict, bringing the total number of Sudanese registered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Libya to 50,082. The majority of these refugees have entered through kufra, a key entry point, where authorities report that between 300-400 new arrivals are documented daily. It is estimated that around 65,000 Sudanese have passed through this region alone.
- Twelve Egyptian migrants lost their lives on Tuesday when their boat capsized off the coast of Libya, marking another tragic incident in the perilous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea. According to the Crossings Foundation for Migrant Aid and Humanitarian Services, the boat carrying 13 migrants sank 60 kilometers east of Tobruk. Only one survivor was rescued and is now under the care of Libyan authorities. Reports from Reuters and Egyptian security sources confirm that the migrants had set off from Sharqia and Gharbia governorates in Egypt. Their goal was to reach Italy, traveling on a boat arranged by human traffickers. The journey, however, ended in disaster, adding to the growing number of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean this year.
- Law Enforcement Department of the General Administration of Security Operations was able to seize quantities of prohibited materials, including fuel and other goods, inside the vehicles of passengers traveling through the Ras Ijdir border crossing. This was part of the ongoing efforts made by the patrols of the Law Enforcement Department charged with securing the Ras Ijdir border crossing. The Ministry of Interior affirmed its full commitment to combating all forms of smuggling and border crimes to ensure the security and safety of the citizens.
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A boat carrying 13 Egyptian migrants bound for Europe capsized 60 kilometres off the coast of Tobruk, the Crossing Foundation for Migrant Assistance and Humanitarian Services in Libya has reported. All aboard perished except for one person who was rescued and is in good health. The foundation has not obtained the victims’ names, and efforts to locate the bodies of the victims are ongoing.
- The Public Prosecution Office has announced the imprisonment of five people accused of embezzling more than 119 million dinars from the funds of the Al-Nasr Fuel Transport Association. A statement published by the Public Prosecutor’s Office on Facebook explained that the Brega District Prosecution received a report that included evidence of falsification of the minutes of the General Assembly meetings of the Al-Nasr Association, for the purpose of facilitating the seizure of 119 million and 911 Libyan dinars by five defendants.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- Libya has maintained a substantial foreign currency reserve totaling $80.7 billion in 2024, positioning it as the top country in Africa in this regard. This achievement coincides with Libya’s status as one of the continent’s major oil exporters. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) released a ranking of African countries based on their foreign currency reserves for the year 2024. Despite ongoing political instability and internal conflicts, Libya has managed to sustain its high reserves, primarily due to its oil production and exports. The bank noted that the Central Bank of Libya has utilized these reserves “to stabilize its economy, especially during periods of volatility in global oil prices.”
- French Ambassador to Libya Mostafa Mihraje met with the Acting Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Khoury, to discuss the upcoming steps in Libya’s political process and potential enhancements in financial governance. Ambassador Mihraje shared updates on the meeting through his X account, noting that they emphasized the importance of holding municipal elections on November 16 under optimal and secure conditions. Ambassador Mihraje also highlighted France’s continued support for Khoury and UNSMIL in their efforts to foster stability and progress in Libya.
- The Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh, has directed affiliated bodies to engage exclusively with the General Company for Maritime Transport, led by Khaled Al-Tawati, and to refrain from any dealings with parallel companies. This decision underscores that the General Company for Maritime Transport represents the legal authority of the firm, aiming to prevent conflicts and divisions while safeguarding the company’s finances and assets from any potential misuse. Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
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The High National Elections Commission (HNEC) announced the date of the municipal council elections (group one) for 2024 on Saturday, November 16. This announcement came in an official statement, which also confirmed that the electoral campaigns for the candidates will start with the date of issuance of the decision to approve the final list of candidates and up until Friday, November 15, 2024, which is the day of “electoral silence”. The statement indicated that the HNEC will issue a decision regarding the approval of the final list of candidates and determine the voting day for the municipal council elections. It stressed the need to adhere to the executive regulations attached to Resolution No. (43) of 2023 for the municipal council elections regarding the presentation of their electoral programs, announcing them and advertising them, and stopping all activities classified as electoral propaganda 24 hours before the voting day.
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President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune have emphasized the importance of preserving Libya’s sovereignty and avoiding interference in its internal affairs. During a joint press conference in Cairo on Sunday, Egyptian President el-Sisi said he and Tebboune agreed on the need for a responsible Libyan government to oversee elections, which would bring legitimate leadership to Libya. He highlighted the significance of Libya’s territorial unity and a Libyan-led solution to the crisis.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Khaled Shakshak, the President of Libya’s Audit Bureau, met with Fazila Qarqouri, the President of Tunisia’s Court of Accounts, to discuss ways to activate the Memorandum of Understanding and the Maghreb Coordination Committee. During the meeting, Shakshak presented a copy of the scientific curricula for the Certified Professional Auditor certificate, which the Audit Bureau developed in collaboration with the Arab Society of Certified Accountants. The visit also focused on preparations for the upcoming 16th General Assembly meetings of the African Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (AFROSAI), which will be held in Tripoli in early December.
- Badr El-Din Al-Toumi, the Minister of Local Governance for Libya’s Government of National Unity, recently received Ines Schuma, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs in Libya, along with her accompanying delegation. The meeting provided a platform to discuss a variety of issues and files of mutual interest and cooperation. The gathering focused on reviewing and discussing the key files of joint work, along with the pillars being worked on with the Ministry of Local Governance within the framework of the United Nations’ cooperation in Libya. Minister Al-Toumi provided an overview of the key portfolios that the ministry is advancing with organizations and agencies related to the mission, highlighting the fundamental pillars led by the ministry within the UN framework, particularly those related to peacebuilding and climate change.
- In a significant diplomatic meeting, U.S. Special Envoy Richard Norland and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) Harris welcomed Central Bank of Libya (CBL) Governor Naji Issa at the State Department. The discussions focused on the U.S. commitment to support Libya’s economic reforms, particularly those aimed at increasing governance and transparency within the CBL. During the meeting, both parties acknowledged the recent appointment of a new CBL board of directors, a crucial step toward revitalizing the country’s financial framework. The U.S. officials expressed their support for the bank’s ongoing reform efforts, emphasizing the importance of enhanced governance to foster economic stability and growth in Libya. “The establishment of a competent and accountable CBL is vital for the future of Libya’s economy,” said Special Envoy Norland. “We believe that a transparent financial institution will not only strengthen public trust but also attract foreign investment.”
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The preparatory committee for the Libyan-Italian Forum, headed by the Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Adel Jumaa, reviewed the final arrangements for the opening of the forum and the preparations related to the participation of Italian and Libyan companies. According to the media office of the Government of National Unity, the forum will be launched at the Tripoli International Fair, with the participation of more than 150 Italian companies, in addition to a large number of Libyan companies.