Nov. 4, US District Judge issued a decision to suspend the court’s cases against Khalifa Haftar, until Libya’s upcoming election have concluded.
Nov. 4, HCS head Al-Mishri vows to take up arms if Haftar wins presidential elections.
Nov. 5, Al-Far’s militia, Ghneiwa’s Stabilization Support Agency clash in Al-Zawiya using heavy weapons.
Nov. 6, PC suspends FM Al-Mangoush, bans her from traveling abroad.
Nov. 6, Libya MoD reports Libyan naval units have joined Portuguese navy-led maritime exercise SEA BORDER-21.
TRIPOLI
- Nov. 7, UNHCR deplored the violence which broke out during a demonstration earlier in the morning outside its main office in Tripoli. The UNHCR reported that at least 3 people were attacked, with 1 person taken to hospital;
- Nov. 6, a mother of four was killed as a result of violent clashes between militias controlling the Warshafana region. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses confirmed the outbreak of violent clashes between armed militias in the areas of Warshafana, led by Muammar Al-Dhawi, and a militia led by Ramzi al-Lafa;
- Nov. 7, the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) expressed its deep concern about the fate of a kidnapped member of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Abulgasem Shengheer, who was stopped at Tripoli’s Mitiga Airport while returning from abroad with his family. Chairman of the Oil Institute of Management, Khalid Al-Amati, and an employee of the Aquaus oil operations were also kidnapped recently. The NCHRL called on the Interior Ministry and other security authorities, to disclose the fate of the three officials, and ensure their release.
AL-ZAWIYA
- Nov. 5, fresh heavy clashes erupted between the militias of Mohamed Bahrun (aka Al-Far), who is affiliated with the Ministry of Interior in the city of Al-Zawiya, and the Stabilization Support Agency, led by Abdel-Ghani Al-Kikli (aka Ghneiwa), affiliated with the Presidential Council in Tripoli. The clashes took place at the entrance to the city of Al-Zawiya, after the killing of a member of the Stabilization Support Agency. Various types of heavy weapons were reportedly used during the clashes.
SEBHA
- Nov. 4, the Facilities Security Division (FSD), affiliated with the Libyan Interior Ministry thwarted an attempted armed robbery at a branch of the Jumhouria Bank in Sebha Nov. 3 evening. In a statement, the Security Division said that masked gunmen arrived in a pickup truck and attempted to storm into the bank. Guards exchanged fire with the assailants, whose identities remain unknown, forcing them to flee the scene. The incident represents the latest in a series of recent armed robberies targeting banks in Libya.
SIRTE-MISRATA
- Nov. 5, the militias reopened the main coastal road between Sirte and Misurata, Major General, Khaled al-Mahjoub (Director, Moral Guidance Department, Libyan National Army) reported. Al-Mahjoub added the militias had closed the coastal road between the two cities to claim their unpaid salaries.
MISRATA
- Nov. 2, the Internal Security Agency (ISA) members at Libya’s Misrata Airport thwarted an attempt to smuggle EUR 252,400 on an Afriqiyah Airways flight bound for Turkey. The agency explained that the currency was seized, from two Libyan nationals, one in possession of EUR 143,400, and the other holding USD 109,000.
TOBRUK
- Nov. 6, the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR), Ageela Saleh, called for the urgent and rapid opening of Tobruk Airport, taking into account the negative humanitarian, health, and social conditions suffered by local citizens.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES
- Nov. 7, 80 Libyan MPs announced in a joint statement their support for the Presidential Council in its dispute with GNU over the powers to appoint diplomatic officials and manage the country’s foreign policy, following the PC’s decision to suspend FM Al-Mangoush;
- Nov. 6, the Libyan Presidential Council decided to suspend FM Al-Mangoush as “a precaution” to investigate the “administrative violations” attributed to her — i.e. carrying out foreign policy without coordinating with the Presidential Council. The Presidential Council’s Resolution No. 44 of 2021 bans Al-Mangoush from traveling outside the country until the completion of investigations and a decision on the results by the Presidential Council;
- Nov. 4, High Council of State head Al-Mishri said that Field Marshal Haftar “will never rule”, even if that may cost hundreds of thousands of victims. “If Haftar becomes President, the western region will pick up their weapons and fight,” Al-Mishri said in an interview with Al-Jazeera;
- Spokesman for the Libyan Parliament, Abdullah Blaiheg announced his intention to run for the country’s Parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held in January 2022. “Today, I announce my intention to run for the Parliamentary elections, representing Tobruk constituency, in order to serve my country, my dear city, and its people,” Blaiheg said Nov. 4;
- Nov. 3, Libya’s Public Prosecution remanded a member of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Abulgasem Shengheer, and two others in custody pending further investigations. In a statement, the Prosecution announced that it is conducting investigations into Shengheer, the Director of the Occupational Safety, Security, and Health Department of Akakus Oil, and an employee in charge of the Administrative Affairs Unit, over charges of obtaining illegal benefits, causing serious harm to public money, and abusing power. The detainees were also charged with falsifying documents for personal gain;
- Nov. 1, Head of Libya’s High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), Emad Al-Din Al-Sayeh held an extensive meeting with UN and EU representatives to discuss the technical and advisory support for the commission. The meeting was attended by the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Libya, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program, the EU Ambassador, and the Ambassadors of France, Italy, and the Netherlands. The Head of the Political Bureau of the British Embassy also attended the meeting.
NATIONAL SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION
- Nov. 6, the Libya Ministry of Defense reported that Libyan naval units took part in the maritime exercise SEA BORDER-21, which was hosted by the Portuguese navy starting October 26 within the framework of the 5+5 Defense Initiative. The Initiative also includes Algeria, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, and Tunisia;
- US State Department Adviser, Derek Chollet discussed preparations for the upcoming Libyan elections with the Speaker of the Italian Parliament, Roberto Fico. The parties discussed the next steps in Afghanistan and Libya’s preparedness for elections, among other issues, Chollet reported via Twitter;
- Nov. 5, UNHCR evacuated 172 vulnerable asylum seekers out of Libya to safety in Niger on board the first evacuation flight to Niger in more than a year;
- The Russian Embassy in Paris announced that Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, will participate in an international conference on Libya scheduled to be held in the French capital Nov. 1;
- Nov. 5, 5 + 5 JMC member Emraje Al-Amami said that the commission will hold talks with Russian and Turkish officials separately, in order to discuss the withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from the country;
- Nov. 4, Leonie M. Brinkema, US District Judge issued a decision to suspend the court’s cases against Khalifa Haftar, until Libya’s upcoming election have concluded;
- US Vice President, Kamala Harris plans to attend next week’s Libyan conference being held in Paris to support the upcoming 24 December elections, senior administration officials reported Nov. 4;
- Nov. 2, Egyptian Presidential Spokesman, Bassem Radi stated that President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi discussed the Libyan crisis during a meeting with the Austrian Chancellor, and British Prime Minister on the sidelines of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), held in the Scottish city of Glasgow;
- Nov. 1, Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would not participate in the upcoming international conference on Libya in Paris if Greece, Israel, or Cyprus are invited. Speaking to Turkish journalists on his return from the G20 summit in Rome, President Erdogan has reportedly said he had informed French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron that this was a “condition” for Ankara.
