Libya Security Highlights (January 30 - February 05, 2023)

NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES

The Libyan Ambassador to the European Union, Jalal Al-Ashi, has discussed with the Head of Mission at International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) in Brussels, Ralph Genetzke, migration policies and the expertise provided by the center to Libya. Al-Ashi said in a tweet that the meeting took place on Friday in Brussels, in the presence of Marcello Giordiani, the ICMPD’s Focal Point for Libya.

Investigators from the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya (FFM) expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s response to human right violations. In a statement released after the mission concluded its latest visit to Libya, the UN panel said, during their visit, they have heard testimony from “victims’ relatives of extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, human trafficking, internal displacement, the existence of mass burial sites and morgues containing corpses that families cannot access.”

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 331 migrants were rescued and returned to Libya in the past week. “In the period of Jan. 22-28, 2023, 331 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya,” IOM said in a statement. The rescued migrants included 20 women and 35 children, it added.

NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

The Minister of Finance of the Interim Government of National Unity in Tripoli, Khaled Al-Mabrouk, affirmed that the Dbeibeh government and its financial institutions “fully support the efforts made by the National Oil Corporation to develop the sector and increase production rates.” This came during the minister’s speech at the Oil and Gas Sector Support Forum held in Istanbul, in the presence of the foreign partners of the National Oil Corporation and major oil companies.

Gilles Kepel, President Emmanuel Macron’s special envoy to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, said that small differences with Italy over Libya will not lead to results for the parties, according to Italian news agency Nova. “Small differences over Libya between France and Italy will lead to zero results for the parties, and will benefit countries like Russia,” Kepel added, at the conclusion of the international conference “Italy and France, one year after the Quirinal Treaty,” held at the French Embassy in Rome.
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army, met Fathi Bashagha, head of the Libyan government appointed by the House of Representatives, In al-Rajma town, the eastern suburb of Benghazi. “The Commander of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Abu al-Qasim Haftar, receives in his office at the headquarters of the General Command – Benghazi, the head of the Libyan government, Mr. Fathi Bashagha,” said a statement released by the media of the General Command.

UN envoy to Libya has stressed the need to hold national elections in the North African country as soon as possible. Abdoulaye Bathily, the special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, made his remarks during a meeting with the National Consensus Bloc in the High Council of State, where he heard their assessment and ideas to overcome the political impasse through an initiative they presented.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Cairo is continuing its efforts, through the Parliament and the State Council, to resolve the Libyan crisis. Shoukry added, during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov: “We discussed the Libyan crisis and the need to resolve the crisis by going to the elections.” The Egyptian Foreign Minister affirmed: “We will continue efforts to reach Libyan consensus on the constitutional framework and end the transitional period.”

U.S. Special Envoy for Libya Ambassador Richard Norland met with U.S.-Libya Business Association members on January 26, US Embassy in Libya said. “Great meeting with U.S.-Libya Business Association members on January 26. Securing long term peace and stability is the key to achieving economic prosperity for the benefit of all Libyans,” the Embassy quoted Norland via twitter. “A clear road map toward free, fair, and inclusive elections represents the best path forward to ensure a stable, united, and sovereign Libya, where commerce can flourish,” according to the Ambassador.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

German Ambassador to Libya Michael Ohnmacht said he discussed with the Mayor of Benghazi Saqr Bojwari potential paths to enhance cooperation via the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). “Municipalities play an essential role in serving a country’s citizens – in Germany as well as in Libya,” Ohnmacht tweeted.

Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh held a meeting in Tripoli with a French diplomatic delegation led by Anne Guéguen, the Director of Africa and the Middle East Affairs at the French foreign ministry. According to a statement by Dbeibeh’s media office, both sides discuss prospects of collaboration between Libya and France on energy, health and infrastructure.
The Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, revealed an upcoming visit by Foreign Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Najla Mangoush, to Rome in early February to take important new steps in the field of joint cooperation between the two countries.