Libya Security Highlights (Aug 2-8, 2021)

Aug. 5, large explosion rocks Al-Zawiya amidst militias clashes for supremacy.

Aug. 5, Libyan parties say ready to deploy local, int’l observers to monitor ceasefire.

Aug. 4, FM Al-Mangoush dismisses Ambassador to US, Wafa Bughaighis, over refusal to hand over position as term expires.

TRIPOLI

• Several employees of the state-owned General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) are being prosecuted by Libya’s Attorney General, Al-Siddiq al-Sour on bribery charges, it was announced Aug. 5. In a press release, Al-Sour stated that the Public Prosecution’s investigations proved that GECOL employees had accepted illegal bribes, and violated the laws and regulations governing the management of public money;

AJDABIYA

• The Ajdabiya Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Branch seized a 500-kilogram (kg) shipment of narcotics heading from Sabha to Tobruk. The branch stated that in the early hours of August 7 morning, the patrols of the Anti-Narcotics Bureau in the eastern region seized the quantity in a transport truck. This is the third within a month. The Ajdabiya Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Control Branch indicated, through its Facebook account, that the total seizures are estimated at 20.2 t;

AL-ZAWIYA

• Informed sources told Sky News that a large explosion occurred south of the Libyan city of Al-Zawiya. It came as a result of a conflict between two militias, seeking to establish greater dominance over parts of the Coastal Road. In statements to Sky News Arabia, the sources added that a convenience store was blown up in the Bir Sardin area, which belonged to the brother of one of the leaders of the Muammar Al-Dhawi militia, which is active in the Warshafana area, southwest of Tripoli. They accused militias from Al-Zawiya of the explosion, in retaliation for engaging in clashes last week.

NATIONAL SECURITY

• For the first time, Libyan parties are preparing to deploy local and international observers to monitor the ceasefire, a military source told Asharq Al-Awsat news. The military source, who asked to remain anonymous, said Aug. 5 that a commission was formed along the lines of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), to supervise the monitoring of the truce concluded last year. The source indicated that five officers of the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and five other military personnel affiliated with the Government of National Unity (GNU) were chosen to begin the task of monitoring the ceasefire.

COVID-19

• Aug. 7, the Gharyan Central Teaching Hospital sent urgent distress calls to the Libyan Ministry of Health and all competent authorities over the acute shortage of medical oxygen, warning that patients are at risk. The hospital confirmed that the available oxygen does not cover the needs of patients in the isolation centres. This is due to the increase in the number of people infected with COVID-19. The hospital administration made an appeal to all medical personnel to join their colleagues in the isolation centres in the municipality of Gharyan, due to the severe shortage of medical staffs in the hospital;
• Hundreds of Libyan citizens rushed to shops in the early hours of August 6 before a three-day full lockdown. The lockdown was announced by the authorities and caused fury amongst the citizens. The United Nations (UN)-brokered Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba imposed a two-week curfew from 6pm to 6am on July 26th, in an attempt to fight COVID-19. Aug. 5 evening, without any warning, the GNU announced the full lockdown as of Aug. 7. The sudden decision caused anger amongst many citizens due to their dire living conditions, from a severe lack of services, especially electricity, water, high prices and lack of liquidity in commercial banks.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• Aug. 8, the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM) and the European Operation IRINI signed a new agreement to enhance cooperation and coordination regarding Libya’s border management. Operation IRINI’s mission is to monitor the Libyan arms embargo across the Mediterranean. “EUBAM Head, Natalina Chea, signed a working arrangement with Rear Admiral, Fabio Agostini, Commander of Operation,” EUBAM tweeted Aug. 7. The details of the agreement were not disclosed;

• Aug. 7, the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the “acts of hate” that took place on the coastal road several days after its opening on July 30th. In a statement, UNSMIL said that the long-awaited opening of the coastal road is vital for peace and unity in Libya. It is also essential for reconnecting ordinary Libyans, allowing humanitarian access and the flow of trade;
• Aug. 6, Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese confirmed the strategic role played by Libya and Tunisia in North Africa, and the wider Mediterranean region, according to the Italian news agency, Nova. This came in a press statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior after Lamorgese met with the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba and her Libyan counterpart Khaled Mazen in Tripoli. They discussed issues related to Libya’s stabilisation process, and the ongoing talks with the European Union and the international community in the same context;
• Aug. 6, the United States (US) Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, discussed the developments in Tunisia, Libya, and the Sahel with his Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra. The two diplomats agreed on the need for a sovereign, stable, and unified Libya with no foreign interference, according to a statement by the US Department of State;
• The Libyan Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohammed Al-Hawij, met with the Egyptian Ambassador to Libya, Tamer Mustafa, in the presence of the Libyan General Union of Chambers of Commerce, and the Ministry’s Director of International Cooperation. During the meeting, they discussed the coordination of the upcoming meetings of the Libyan-Egyptian Joint High Committee. They also touched on the upcoming visit of the Egyptian delegation headed by the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry, Nevin Jameh, to strengthen bilateral trade cooperation;
• The United States Special Envoy and Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, said that the situation in Libya is improving, and on its way to a permanent solution. He confirmed the start of talks on unfreezing Libyan funds abroad. In press statements to Akhbar Libya 24, Norland explained that the lack of respect for the arms embargo after the first Berlin Conference, and the period before was disappointing. He pointed out that he attended the meetings leading up to Berlin last year, where various national representatives pledged to respect the arms embargo approved by the Security Council, but a number of countries continued to ignore the ban;
• Aug. 4, Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush has dismissed Libya’s Ambassador to Washington, Wafa Bughaighis, due to the latter’s “refusal to hand over her duties after the expiry of her term of office.” In an official letter, Al-Mangoush said, “based on the expiry of the Ambassador’s term in office since 30 May, and her failure to comply with our instructions and return to her work in Libya, a decision was issued to dismiss her from her position, and her stay in the US is considered illegal”;

• On Wednesday, Prime Minister of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, spoke of the importance of Italy’s role in combating illegal immigration during a meeting with the Italian Minister of Interior, Luciana Lamorgese and her accompanying delegation in Tripoli. According to the GNU’s media office, the meeting also dealt with the current events in Tunisia, and their potential impact on the migration crisis;
• On Wednesday, Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush held a telephone conversation with her Algerian counterpart, Ramtane Lamamra, during which they discussed the prospects for a peaceful settlement of the Libyan crises. During the talks, they stated that a peaceful settlement would honour the aspirations of the Libyan people, as well as preserve the independence and territorial integrity of the North African country;
• Nigerian security forces have rescued thirteen minors, most of them girls, from the hands of a notorious human trafficker, Nurudeen Sani, who has been on its watch list. “The well-planned operation also led to the rescue of 13 Libya-bound victims of human trafficking, made up of two boys and eleven girls”, the agency’s statement said. It added that it began “a manhunt for two members of the trafficking ring, whose names were given as Bose and Ismael,” according to Guardian Nigeria News;
• The Tunisian Embassy in Libya stated that the Head of the Department for Combating Illegal Migration, Colonel Abdel-Hafiz Mabrouk announced that all Tunisian migrants “will be released within the next two days or during the weekend at the latest, after completing the necessary administrative, legal, and health procedures”;
• Aug. 2, The US Department of State issued a travel advisory warning for Libya, due to the spread of COVID-19, and the threat of terrorist attacks. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Libya due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of registered cases in the North-African country;
• Aug. 2, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar received Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio and his accompanying delegation in Al-Rajmah. According to the Military Information Division of the LNA General Command, Haftar and Di Maio discussed bilateral relations, and the latest political developments in Libya;

• Aug. 2, Deputy Foreign Minister and the Special Representative of the Russian President for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, held a telephone call with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Libya, Jan Kubis. In a statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the telephone conversation touched on a number of issues, especially with regard to “advancing the Libyan peace process in accordance with the outcomes of the Berlin Conference’s and Resolutions 2510 and 2570 of the UN Security Council”;
• Aug. 2, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio held talks in Tripoli with Libyan Prime Minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba and Foreign Minister, Najla Al-Mangoush. The PM’s Media Office said the two parties discussed a number of issues of common concern, including bilateral relations. An expanded meeting is set to be held soon.