NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES
- A crammed boat carrying Europe-bound migrants capsized off Libya, killing at least eight people, while 58 others were still missing, the Libyan Red Crescent said. The vessel was carrying at least 150 migrants, 84 of whom survived and were taken to state-run detention centers for migrants, said Tawfik al-Shukri, spokesman for the Libyan Red Crescent – which handles search and rescue operations.
- A large container ship with 701 containers on board, including 32 transit containers, docked at the Free Zone Port in Misurata, coming from Turkey, according to the Zone. In return, it will be shipped with approximately 3,500 containers destined for the main ports of China, Misurata Free Zone said on its official Facebook page. The ship HAKUNA MATATA, with a length of 304 meters and a width of 40 meters, belongs to the Almarsah Shipping Company, it noted out.
NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- The General Awqaf Authority in Tripoli, which is controlled by the former Grand Mufti of Libya, dismissed by the House of Representatives (HoR), al-Sadiq al-Ghariani, seeks to spread extremist ideology in Libya through religious schools in Tripoli and its environs, in addition to a religious program that targets primary and preparatory public schools.
- Abdoulaye Bathily, the UN Envoy to Libya and Abdelmajid Tebboun, the President of Algeria, discussed latest developments in Libya and overcoming Libyan political impasse. “I had the privilege of meeting H.E Mr. Abdelmajid Tebboun, the President of Algeria. He shared his views on the situation in Libya highlighting the need for taking all necessary steps to overcome the political impasse through elections,” UN Envoy Bathily tweeted.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is preparing a trip to Libya next Saturday as part of her efforts to secure more oil and gas supplies from North Africa, according to multiple press reports. The trip is not confirmed and might be delayed or canceled because of security concerns, as per press reports.
- The Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives said that they submitted a proposal to the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on forming a new, single government instead of opting for a dual government system. “There is still an opportunity to form a new government. A proposal has been submitted to the UN mission on the mechanism for forming a new government,” the House of Representatives cited Aguila Saleh as saying on its official Facebook page.
Aguila Saleh, Speaker of the House of Representatives at a Meeting on Libyan Constitutional Track. UN Photo / Jean Marc Ferré
- Libyan Foreign Minister, Najla Mangoush, has accused the Arab League of failing to show support for Libya after powerful Arab foreign ministers boycotted a summit hosted by the Government of National Unity in Tripoli. Among those boycotting the gathering was Egypt, which questioned the legitimacy of Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah’s government. The foreign ministers of Gulf monarchies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also did not attend, as well as Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- The Libyan outgoing Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, received the Italian Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, and her accompanying delegation in Tripoli on Saturday, according Dbeibeh’s Media Office. The Italian Nova News Agency said that Meloni intends to visit Libya, on Saturday, at the head of a delegation that includes Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Interior Minister Matteo Piantidossi.
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UN envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, said he met in Algiers with Algerian Foreign Minister, Ramtane Lamamra, where they “held extensive consultations about the crisis in Libya, it’s impact on neighboring countries and the way to overcome political impasse.” Bathily emphasized during the meeting the importance of unifying efforts at the regional and international levels to achieve the much needed and necessary compromise for holding elections in 2023, to put Libya on a path of sustained stability and peace, according to UN envoy.
- Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi held talks to review logistical preparations for the upcoming visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Tripoli. According to a statement by the Libyan foreign ministry, Meloni’s will lead a senior delegation, which include her foreign minister Antonio Tajani and interior minister Matteo Piantedosi. The exact date of the visit is yet to be disclosed.
- The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture signed a memorandum of understanding with the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) in Washington, DC. The signing of the MoU came after a 40 member Tripoli Chamber delegation completed their participation in the World of Concrete (WOC 2023) exhibition from January 17-19 January in Las Vegas, organized by AmCham Libya.
