Libya Security Highlights (August 23-29, 2021)

Aug. 28, LNA Cmdr.-in-Chief Haftar meets with UNSMIL head Ján Kubiš in Ar Rajma.

Aug. 25, 29 MPs call for withdrawing confidence from Al-Dabaiba’s GNU over failure to provide “the simplest services to the Libyan people.

Aug. 23, LNA report discovery of huge cache around 100 km south of Ubari, containing smuggled weapons, fuel, equipment destined for bandits, terrorists in Mali, Niger.

TRIPOLI

• Aug. 24, a Turkish military helicopter landed at the Mitiga airport in Tripoli, where a number of Turkish soldiers disembarked, according to 218 news sources. These soldiers are believed to have loaded military equipment onto the helicopter and quickly left the base. The sources added that a second Turkish helicopter later returned to Mitiga, with more than 20 Turkish soldiers on board.

MISRATA

• Libyan Military Commander Salah Badi has said Turkey is in control of the western part of Libya, calling on Ankara to withdraw mercenaries and troops from the war-torn country. Salah Badi is the Commander of the Al-Samoud Brigade. He also led the “Libya Dawn” operation in 2014, which resulted in the burning of Tripoli International Airport. During a discussion on ClubHouse, Badi said that Turkey is in control of Libya’s foreign policy. He indicated that he refused to have the Syrian mercenaries fight alongside him in the 2019 Tripoli war, adding that he “kicked them out” from the place he controls in Libya.

NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

• Aug. 29, 44 members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), called on the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) to Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL), Ján Kubiš, to hold an emergency session for the LPDF to address the serious breaches that impede the implementation of the LPDF roadmap. In a letter, the LPDF members called for an emergency meeting for the forum to address the serious breaches in the implementation of the country’s agreed-upon political roadmap;
• Aug. 28, the Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Mohamed Aoun, issued a decision, suspending the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Mustafa Sanalla. In two letters addressed to the Head of the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) and the Head of the NOC, Aoun attributed the reason for the suspension to the fact that Sanalla had undertaken a foreign work mission without his permission or approval. In addition, he said that Sanalla obstructed and prevented Jadallah Al-Awkali from carrying out his duties as assigned by the Minister of Oil and Gas Aug. 24;
• The Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh, accused the High Council of State (HCS) led by Khaled Al-Mishri of hindering the upcoming presidential elections, describing the Council as “the enemy”. During an interview with Al-Ghad satellite channel, Saleh said the Presidential Election Law is ready, and has been referred to the House Legislative Committee and will be passed during the upcoming sessions;
• Aug. 28, the Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, met with the Head of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Ján Kubiš, in the city of Ar Rajma. According to the Information Office of the LNA’s General Command, Haftar received Kubiš and his accompanying delegation in his office at the headquarters of the LNA General Command. Earlier, Kubiš met with Interior Minister, Khaled Mazen, and discussed the results of his recent visit to Tunisia, in addition to the file of securing the upcoming elections;
• The management committee of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) announced Aug. 26 that the company was unable to continue its activities and carry out its work without the necessary funds. In a statement, it added that the company was conducting business without the budgets of 2020 and 2021, and has been unable to carry out work despite continuous promises that it will be provided with the appropriate budgets and funds;
• Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Aoun, issued a decision, on 24 August, appointing Jadallah Al-Awkali, a member of the National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) management, as the Chairman of the Corporation’s Board of Directors. This is reportedly due to the absence of Mustafa Sanalla, the NOC Head, from work. However, Al-Awkali sent a letter to Aoun informing him that he was unable to take up his position, as Sanalla informed his office manager that he is continuing his work from outside the country. This has resulted in Al-Awkali attempting to distance himself from the decision, to avoid disrupting the work of the NOC, amidst the ongoing confusion;
• Aug. 25, 29 Member of Libyan Parliament called for withdrawing confidence from the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba. They accused the government of “not providing the simplest services to the Libyan people”. A statement signed by the MP’s said that Dbaiba deals with the eastern region “on the principle of punishment and defeat, and has become a party to the conflict.” They also accused Dbaiba’s government of not adhering to the roadmap stipulated in the political agreement.

NATIONAL SECURITY AND SANITARY ISSUES

• The Libyan Health Minister, Ali Al-Zanati, said the epidemiological situation in the country is stable, denying “rumors” about the increase in registered cases infected with COVID-19, and the lack of oxygen in isolation centres. Al-Zanati visited the isolation centre in the Benghazi Medical Centre in the East of the country Aug. 26. He was briefed on the work processs and epidemiological situation there;
• The Libyan National Army (LNA) has managed to seize huge cache of weapons in the south of the country, which were believed to be on their way to armed gangs and terrorist organisations in Mali and Niger. The second company of the 128th Reinforced Brigade stationed in the region of Ubari, said in a brief statement Aug. 23, that the operation was carried out 100 kilometers from the city, in southwestern Libya. The smuggling of weapons, fuel, vehicles, and people through southern Libya, has intensified during the military-political crisis emanating since 2011 civil war;

• Aug. 23, the Spokesman of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Mismari, commented on the terror attack targeted a security checkpoint belonging to the 128th Infantry Brigade in Zillah city, “the perpetrator of the attack was a terrorist of African nationality who detonated a car bomb without causing any casualties.” In press statements, he said that the terrorist was seriously injured, and died shortly after the attack took place. He claimed that there was a link between religious extremists based in western Libya, and those in Tunisia, with the latter receiving training inside Libyan territory. Al-Mismari also stated that “some regional countries” transferred nearly 380 terrorist fighters to Libya, specifically in June 2019, through Zwara port.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• Aug. 26, Libya’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush, affirmed Libya’s full support for Tunisia, as it works to ensure its security and stability. The FM stressed the importance of continuing to work to confront any external and regional interference targeting Tunisian-Libyan national security;
• Aug. 26, a ministerial delegation from Libya consisting of Minister of Interior, Khaled Mazen and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush, arrived in Tunis, according to a statement by the official Spokesman of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Mohamed Hamouda. Hamouda added that the delegation will hold intensive talks with their Tunisian counterparts to agree on a unified health protocol, as a necessary step for re-opening the land borders, and to resume flights between the two countries;
• Aug. 26, the US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland said that the formation of a new joint force, comprising of the 166th Battalion for Protection and Security, and the Tareq Bin Ziyad Brigade, which has been tasked to secure the Great Man-Made River (GMMR), is a very important step for protecting Libya’s vital water resources, promoting national reconciliation, and unifying the armed forces;
• The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the creation of a new joint force, from both sides of the conflict. It is comprised of the 166th Battalion for Protection and Security, and the Tareq Bin Ziyad Brigade, which has been tasked to secure the Great Man-Made River (GMMR). UNSMIL commended these efforts, conducted in coordination with the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), saying it is a very significant step forward towards the unification of the military institution, and the country;
• Libya, the current chair of the Council of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) Foreign Ministers, called on member states to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Arab League Council meeting, that will be held in Cairo from 7-9 September. In a statement, Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep regret for the deterioration of relations between Morocco and Algeria. It called on the two countries to exercise restraint, and to adhere to the common principles and goals for which the Arab Maghreb Union was established, in order to serve the aspirations of the Arab peoples;
• Aug. 25, Head of Egypt’s diplomatic mission in Tripoli, Tamer Moustafa held a meeting with a number of Libyan officials to discuss preparations for re-opening the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli, and the Consulate in Benghazi. The move “affirms Egypt’s constant support for Libya’s stability,” the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Aug. 25. Moustafa held meetings with the Libyan ministers of Foreign Affairs, Planning, Oil and Gas, Housing, Labor, and the Economy, where they discussed bilateral ties and means to further enhance them;

• The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM ) told the 218 News channel that it is aware of the Aug. 22 attack on a military checkpoint in Libya’s Zillah, and that they are closely monitoring the events in Libya. In a press statement, AFRICOM added that it continues to focus on the terrorist groups that pose a threat to regional security, and American and Western interests;
• The Undersecretary of Political Affairs at the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Khalil Issa, held intensive meetings in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum Aug. 24. This included a meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister, Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi. According to a statement by the Libyan MoFA, the meeting reviewed bilateral relations, and ways to support and develop them. During the meeting, Issa stressed the necessity of activating the 2018 quadripartite agreement with Sudan, Niger, and Chad to protect the shared borders. He suggested concluding a bilateral agreement to protect the borders between Libya and Sudan, if it is not possible to activate the agreement altogether;

• Aug. 24, Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Al-Mangoush held a meeting with the Chargé d’Affairs of the Greek Embassy in Libya, Ioannis Stamatikos, in Tripoli. During the talks, Stamatikos said that the embassy will soon begin issuing visas to Libyan applicants. “Libya is a neighbouring country, with which we have always had a wide range of cooperation: economic, trade, defence and even cultural,” he noted. The two officials stressed the depth of the existing cooperation between Libya and Greece, and discussed ways to further strengthen and develop them;

• The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell announced his upcoming visits to Iraq, Tunisia, and Libya in September. The Italian news agency, NOVA reported that contacts are underway with the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) to organize Borrell’s trip to Tripoli;
• Aug. 23, the Undersecretary of the Libyan Foreign Ministry, Omar Keti, held an expanded meeting with members of the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM). During the meeting, they discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation between Libya and the EU, and preparations for signing and activating memorandum of understanding in several fields. The two sides also discussed the possibility of Libya joining the EU’s programs for southern Mediterranean countries for sustainable development;
• Aug. 24, the US Embassy in Libya stated that Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra briefed US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, on Algeria’s plans to host the foreign ministers of neighbouring countries to support the Libyan elections, and stop the spread of violence emanating from Libya’s south;
• Aug. 23, the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi, met with the Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Jan Kubis in Tripoli. They discussed the latest developments in Libya, national reconciliation efforts, and the issues facing the holding of the December elections as scheduled. The two sides discussed the security situation in the country, and the ongoing coordination with neighbouring countries on joint security issues. Kubis praised the efforts of the Presidential Council in unifying state institutions, and laying the foundations for national reconciliation to achieve lasting stability in the country;

• Aug. 23, Maltese Ambassador to Libya Charles Saliba, met with the Libyan Oil Minister, Mohamed Aoun, where they discussed the latest developments in the North-African country. “I met today the Hon. Minister for Oil HE Mohamed Aoun at Tripoli. Together we discussed the latest developments in Libya, and the fair distribution of wealth from oil and gas for the benefit of the Libyan people,” Saliba tweeted. The meeting touched on the upcoming December elections in Libya, in addition to bilateral relations.