SNE Special Projects have operated within Libya since the revolution of 2011 and are a fully licensed security provider working with our Libyan partner company. We have kept our permanent British & Libyan Country Management Team in Tripoli throughout the last few difficult months, supporting our clients staff and critical infrastructure and offering up to date, regular and accurate reporting throughout this period. We are now in a strong position to advise and support our clients as they look to plan their re-entry back into Libya as and when the current situation stabilises and allows for remobilization and we have a vast amount of experience of supporting clients from the media, telecoms, power generation & NGO sectors. For more information on our services within Libya please email us at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk
SNE Libya Security Summary
Fighting has continued in the east of Libya around the oil terminals where forces from the Libya Dawn coalition launched an assault in the oil crescent area on 13 December with the intention to seize control of the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil terminals. In retaliation pro-government forces launched air strikes on Libya Dawn targets around forty kilometres west of Es Sider and close to the steam power plant inside Sirte it-self which raises concerns that oil facilities could be damaged and closed for an extended period of time.
Ground clashes have also been ongoing in the Bin Jawad area, where Libya Dawn forces have reportedly consolidated control. Pro-government forces have claimed that they have made advances in Western Libya, stating that al Jmail, Rigdaleen and Ajaylat are now under Libyan Army control. Libya Dawn forces for now remain in control of the Ras Jadir border crossing with Tunisia, however Ras Jadir and the Dehiba crossing further south are due to remain closed until 24 December due to the Tunisian presidential elections. Libyan Television has apparently issued warnings declaring the stretch of road from Zuwarrah to the Ras Jadir border as a “Military Area” and warned that it is forbidden to travel there without prior permission from the Libya Dawn Security Room.
There still remains no clear indication of when the planned UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) sponsored national dialogue talks will begin again with both parties making increasingly difficult pre-conditions. Foreign Ministers from Holland and Germany have this week warned that the escalating civil war in Libya could be a greater threat to Europe than the fighting in Iraq and Syria. Italy has issued a veiled threat that to protect its borders from Libyan refugees they would consider military action.
Fighting has continued in Benghazi districts, particularly the al Sabri area which has remained a stronghold of the Benghazi Shura Council militants. HOR Prime Minister Al Thanni claims that 85% of Benghazi is now under his forces control with reports from General Hiftar that he will soon control the whole of Benghazi city and the eastern region. However SNE sources living in Benghazi state that the situation remains very volatile and the fighting is ongoing, albeit with small “pockets of resistance” from Islamist militias.
Tribal clashes have also continued in southern Libya between the Tebu and Tuareg tribes for control of the strategic Tendi mountains and the El Sahara oilfields and reports state that Libya Dawn forces have mobilised to re-enforce the Tuareg fighters in this area. Fighting also reportedly broke out in Ain Mara district, located twenty kilometres to the west of Derna, between Libyan Army forces and extremist Islamist militants.
The Libyan central Bank reported that Libya is heading for a financial crisis with expenditure double the income from oil and customs revenues, and the European Union banning all Libyan Airlines from European Airspace over serviceability issues with Libyan aircraft due to the ongoing state of the country and infrastructure. The National Oil Corporation has in an effort to allay International oil traders fears issued a statement that they, the NOC are neutral and not aligned with either of Libya’s current two Governments.
Due to the current ongoing unstable and unpredictable situation within Libya, SNE are recommending that clients only carry out business essential travel and movements only these trips should only be undertaken within Tripoli city limits only and no movement should be attempted in the hours of darkness or near the area of Tripoli International Airport and surroundings districts which have been affected by the fighting and are currently controlled by the Libya Dawn militia group.
We are advising No movement to the western area of Libya in and around Kikla and Rujban and other surrounding areas where fighting is still ongoing between the Zintan and Libya Dawn militia groups. Sporadic fighting between rival tribal factions is also currently ongoing in the areas of Ubari, Sabha & Murzuq and we are advising our clients Not to travel to these southern areas at present.
We are still presently advising NO travel should be made to Benghazi until the current situation shows signs of stability and Operation Dignity forces have full control of the city and transportation methods of entering and leaving Benghazi are open again.
SNE are supporting our clients at present in Tripoli with business essential travel visits and are offering a full turnkey security risk management, safe transportation with secure accommodation and life support package based from our Tripoli villa.
The British FCO and US State Department are still advising against travel to Libya and are monitoring the security and political situation before considering remobilisation plans back into Libya.
SNE remains fully operational on the ground within Tripoli, where our British Country Management Team are able to support any of our existing and additional clients requests and provide up to date accurate information and analysis on the ever changing situation to those clients who are currently out of country monitoring the situation with an aim to re-deploying when the security and political situation allows. Before considering travel to Libya, an itinerary specific pre-travel risk assessment including mitigation measures are recommended. In-country personnel should be confident in their evacuation procedures and crisis management plans and in light of the current situation these should be checked and updated where necessary with the appropriate level of support in country to activate the plans when required.
To discuss further how SNE can support your projects in Libya please contact us by email at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk or call our Dubai office on +971 44561542 / +971 503786803
