NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
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More than 60 migrants are believed to have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Citing survivors, the UN agency said the vessel left the city of Zuwara with around 86 people on board. It said high waves swamped the boat and that 61 migrants, including children, were missing and presumed dead.
- Libya repatriated nearly 1,000 migrants from Egypt and Nigeria who had been staying in the North African country illegally, officials and AFP journalists said. The 664 Egyptians were to be taken by bus to the Emsaed border post with Egypt, nearly 1,400 kilometres (870 miles) east of Tripoli. General Mohamad Bardaa, who heads the country’s anti-immigration body affiliated to the interior ministry, said 300 Nigerians were taken to the airport to be flown home.
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The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has organized a four-day first aid training for for 16 participants of Libyan security forces from the West Coast Military Region. According to brief statement by the Red Cross via X, the training aims to “enhance their capabilities to save lives in emergencies.”
- The European Union’s Operation IRINI investigated 274 merchant vessels via radio calls (out of 12,490) and carried out 12 visits on ships (out of 593) in November 2023. Launched in March 2020, Operation IRINI is part of the European integrated approach to Libya, which includes political, military, economic and humanitarian efforts to bring stability and security to the country. Its primary task is to implement the UN arms embargo on Libya.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The International Organization of Migration (IOM) held a workshop in Benghazi, which focused on internal displaced peoples (IDPs). According to a statement by the IOM, officials from municipalities of Derna, Albayda, Shahhat, and Tobrouk, attended the workshop as well as representatives from the Libyan Red Crescent and Libyan Humanitarian Relief Agency (LIBAID).
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UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily said Wednesday he met with the Vice-Speakers of the House of Representatives (HoR), Fawzi Nuwairi and Musbah Doumah, in Benghazi. Bathily explained that they discussed recent political developments in Libya and explored ways to further strengthen cooperation between UNSMIL and the House of Representatives.
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The Libyan Ministry of Interior’s Election Security Section concluded the second training program on Electoral Security, supported by The U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). The UNDP said the training is aimed at empowering the ministry’s personnel to “share expertise and collaborate on formulating strategic approaches for national and subnational electoral processes.”
