Libya Security Highlights (September 20-26, 2021)

Sep. 22, unidentified gunmen kill Tripoli resident Abdel-Hakim al-Thaaban in Al-Ghararat area.

Sep. 21, HoR withdraws confidence in GNU following closed-door session in Tobruk.

TRIPOLI

• Sep. 22, Abdel-Hakim Al-Thaaban, a resident of the Al-Ghararat area in Tripoli was shot by unknown gunmen. Sources pointed out that the incident occurred near the Jaafar Al-Tayyar mosque, as Al-Thaaban was attending the dawn prayers. Gunmen fired four rounds at him from close range into his back before fleeing the scene;
• Sep. 22, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that 42 Europe-bound asylum-seekers and migrants were returned to Tripoli. Among them were four children and eight women, of whom two were pregnant. UNHCR added that the majority of the asylum-seekers were from Nigeria, Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt. “UNHCR and International Rescue Committee (IRC) provided assistance and medical aid to all survivors,” it tweeted.

BENGHAZI

• The security authorities in Benghazi arrested over 45 migrants of Turkish and Iranian origin whose boat was malfunctioning off the Libyan coast, the Head of the Benghazi Law Enforcement Force, Colonel Jamal Juma al-Amami, said in a statement. He added that the migrants were in Turkey and were heading to Italy. Their boat broke down off the Libyan coast, and the waves pulled them until the coast guard found them.

KUFRA

• Sep. 26, the Libyan Attorney General’s Office announced the arrest of a migrant smuggling network that caused the death of 6 migrants near the Libyan-Sudanese border. Mohamed Adam, a migrant, submitted a report to the Kufra Police Station regarding the death of a number of migrants near the Libyan-Sudanese border. They were transported by an organized group across the border routes into Libya and left in the desert. They left them without any means to help them leave their place of residence. The Attorney General’s Office stated that the Kufra Primary Prosecution had started an investigation into the incident. It examined the scene of the incident and the bodies of the migrants. Then, it presented the result to the forensic doctor to explain the cause of death.

NATIONAL POLITICS AND SOCIAL ISSUES

• The Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) has invited members to attend a session to discuss the draft law on the election of the new Parliament. It has set Sep. 27 for the session to discuss the law. In a Sep. 23 statement, it called on MP’s to assume their national and legal responsibilities to complete the electoral process. It added that this will ensure the integrity of the political process, in accordance with the roadmap approved by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF);
• Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Raisedon Zenenga met with the Head of the Libyan High National Elections Commission (HNEC) Emad Al-Sayeh. According to a statement by UNSMIL, Zenenga expressed the UN’s continued support for HNEC’s work. They discussed the next steps on technical preparations for the 24 December elections in Libya. They also discussed current developments as Libya’s legislative authorities prepare relevant electoral laws;
• Sep. 21, HoR Speaker, Ageela Saleh stated the decision to withdraw confidence from the Government of National Unity (GNU) was legal. This is after it failed to sufficiently convince the HoR during its recent questioning session. In remarks to Libya Al-Hadath TV, Ageela Saleh affirmed that more than a quarter of the MPs voted for the withdrawal of confidence from the government, and the process has been done in accordance with the law;
• Sep. 20, Libya’s High Council of State (HCS) called on the HoR to postpone the presidential elections scheduled for 24 December, for at least a year. HoR Speaker, Ageela Saleh announced his ratification of a presidential election law issued Sep. 9. The High Council of State has rejected this move, claiming it would not recognize the law, “that was passed without a legal vote or consensus.” HCS head Al-Mishri said in a press statement that they have prepared a constitutional rule and proposed to include it in the constitutional declaration. As well as proposing to hold parliamentary elections first to establish a two-chamber parliament (senators and representatives) on Dec. 24;
• During a Sep. 21 closed-door session in Tobruk, Libya’s HoR has decided to withdraw confidence in the Government of National Unity (GNU). According to HoR Spokesman Abdullah Blaiheg, out of a total of 113 MPs present, 89 voted in favor of the move. He added that the GNU would now act as a caretaker government, with reduced powers. Sep. 20, Blaiheg had confirmed that MPs had formed a committee tasked with investigating the government over the agreements and decisions it has concluded. The committee’s findings are due to be submitted within two weeks. The Spokesman added that the MP’s also agreed to form a committee to reconsider introducing amendments to the Law No. 10 of 2014 regarding elections to the HoR. This committee is scheduled to present its proposal during next week’s session.

NATIONAL SECURITY

• Senior Libyan officials met Sep. 22 to discuss ways to implement the Quartet Agreement on Border Security concluded in 2018, between Libya, Chad, Niger, and Sudan. The porous joint borders area is home to various armed groups and rebel movements, and used by human smugglers with impunity. The Chief of Staff of the Border Guard, the Director of the Military Intelligence Department, and the Commander of the Operations Authority of the Libyan Army attended the meeting. Representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Justice, and General Intelligence also participated in the session. The meeting concluded with the formation of a technical committee, which “will develop a national action plan that will be presented to the Presidential Council (PC) for discussion and adoption. The PC will present that plan to the countries participating in the Quartet Agreement for discussions,” the statement noted.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• Sep. 26, the Italian FM, Luigi Di Maio, said that the situation on the ground in Libya was “not excellent.” He confirmed that “the international community is fully aware that the Libyan people want elections” scheduled for Dec. 24. Di-Maio renewed the warning that without elections, there is a risk of instability in Libya. He added that with instability the risk of terrorism and unmanaged immigration increases;
• UN Sec-Gen, António Guterres, reiterated his thanks to Tunisia for the facilities it provides for the work of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). He praised the Tunisian efforts to contribute to advancing the path of a political settlement in Libya. This came during a meeting between Guterres and Tunisian FM, Othman Jerandi, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 76th session’s works. In a separate meeting with Libya’s PC head Al-Menfi, Guterres also stressed the importance of holding the upcoming elections as scheduled at the end of this year. He welcomed the steps taken by the country’s Presidential Council to advance the paths of dialogue among all Libyan parties;
• The President of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi, held talks with China’s FM, Wáng Yì, Sep. 24 to discuss the latest developments in Libya and ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation. The Chinese top diplomat called on all Libyan parties to steer clear of disruptions and overcome difficulties to promote the process of political settlement in the country. These remarks came during Al-Menfi’s meeting with Wáng on the sidelines of the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA;
• Sep. 25, the Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Younis Al-Menfi met with Russian FM, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the UNGA Sep. 24 to discuss international aid to Libya. According to a statement, issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides stated the need to consolidate international aid to Libya’s transitional government;
• Sep. 23, Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi held bilateral talks on the latest developments in Libya with Tunisia FM, Othman Jerandi. During the meeting, Jerandi affirmed Tunisia’s support for the democratic process in Libya, and the elections set for 24 December. The two officials also discussed “pushing forward a comprehensive political settlement,” the Tunisian FM said in a statement. In turn, Al-Menfi affirmed his continuous support for the Tunisian people, praising the distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries, and the visit of Tunisian President, Kais Saied to Libya in March;

• Sep. 23, Libya’s FM, Najla Al-Mangoush announced that the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) will soon reveal a plan for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and mercenaries from the country. Al-Mangoush’s statement came in a virtual roundtable organized by the United Nations Development Programme, that was focused on the “pursuit of sustainable peace” in Libya. The Libyan FM also announced that a conference will be held at the ministerial level on 21 October regarding Libya’s stability. This will discuss unifying the military and integrating or dismantling any armed militias left in the North African country. She stressed that Libya’s stability requires the support and backing of the international community;
• Sep. 23, Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi met with the EU President, Charles Michel. The two officials discussed the latest developments in the Libyan political scene, and the ongoing preparations for the December elections. The meeting came on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UNGA meetings in New York City. Michel affirmed the EU’s firm support for holding free and fair elections in order to achieve stability and peace in Libya. “Economic recovery, elections, and the fight against illegal immigration are areas in which the EU can help,” he noted;
• Two leaked emails sent by business contacts of Hunter Biden, indicate that the US president’s son requested an annual retainer of USD 2m to help recover billions in Libyan assets frozen by the Obama administration, according to Business Insider. The Obama administration froze up to USD 15bn in assets during the final months of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. In 2015, long after Gaddafi’s ouster and death, two Democratic donors with business in the Persian Gulf pitched Hunter Biden about joining their cause;
• Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz addressed the United Nations General Assembly Sep. 23. He stated that the Kingdom supports a peaceful solution to the crisis in Libya, under the auspices of the UN. He also affirmed Riyadh’s keenness to ensure the security and stability of Libya, wishing the Libyan people progress and prosperity;
• Sep. 22, Libyan FM, Najla Al-Mangoush held a meeting with her Venezuela counterpart, Felix Gonzalez. The two discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations to serve their peoples. Al-Mangoush reviewed ways to activate the joint cooperation agreements between the two countries. She stressed the importance of relations with Venezuela, as it was the first country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with Libya. In turn, Gonzalez confirmed his support for stability and the importance of its consolidation in Libya. He said that they would reopen the embassy in Tripoli, and called for the reopening of the Libyan Embassy in Caracas;

• Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi met with the Algeria FM, Ramtane Lamamra on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s 76th session. During the meeting, Lamamra affirmed Algeria’s support for Libya to achieve a comprehensive national reconciliation program;
• Sep. 21, France Ambassador to Libya, Béatrice Du Helen said that a French committee will visit Libyan airports to review the resumption of air traffic between the two countries. During her meeting with the Undersecretary of the Libyan Ministry of Economy, Suhail Abu Shiha, Du Helen affirmed the French government’s readiness to provide support to Libya at all levels. She also indicated that France is seeking to resume its diplomatic work from its embassy in Tripoli, as soon as possible;
• Sep. 21, Head of Libya’s Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi participated in the opening ceremony of the 76th session of the UNGA. He was accompanied by FM, Najla Al-Mangoush. The opening of the session was attended by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and the new President of the UNGA, Maldives FM, Abdulla Shahid;

• Sep. 20, French FM, Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that France will host an international conference on Libya on 12 November. Le Drian explained that Germany and Italy will help prepare for the conference, which aims to ensure Libya’s elections are held on time. As well as to discuss the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from the country;
• Libya’s Minister of Planning, Fakher Boufarneh, held a meeting where he received the new UK Ambassador to Libya, Caroline Hurndall in Tripoli. They discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation, and the necessity of achieving stability to hold the December elections. Boufarneh commended the UK’s role in supporting Libyan institutions, and said that he looked forward to opening new perspectives for cooperation. Ambassador Hurndall reiterated the UK’s full support to Libya, and confirmed that all technical and logistical aid to Tripoli would continue to be extended to help the country;
• Sep. 20, Egyptian Interior Minister, Mahmoud Tawfiq received his Libyan counterpart Khaled Mazen, who is heading a high-level security delegation in Cairo. During their meeting, the two sides discussed activating the security partnership between Egypt and Libya, and ways to help Libyan security cadres benefit from the Egyptian security expertise. Mazen praised Egypt’s continuous efforts to support Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) in various fields. He expressed his ministry’s aspiration to strengthen security cooperation frameworks with the Egyptian security services;
• Sep. 20 afternoon, the first Libyan-bound flight landed in Mitiga Airport from Valletta Airport in Malta, marking the re-launch of the air route after a two-year hiatus. The plane was received, upon its arrival at Mitiga International Airport, by the Libyan Minister of Transport, Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hawaij, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport for Air Transport, Khaled Al-Suwaisi, and the Maltese Minister for Economy and Industry, Silvio Schembri;
• The former UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame said that the “ruling authority” in Libya does not want the elections to be held on time. In an interview with the Al-Ghad television channel, Salame accused this “ruling authority” of obstructing the holding of elections on time. This is due to them wanting to run, in violation of the agreed-upon political roadmap.