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
The ongoing clashes between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and Islamist Militias continues as the rival groups seek to take control of Libya’s vast oil and gas industry. The blaze caused by an RPG attack launched from a speedboat on Es Sidr terminal is now finally under control after burning for nine days and costing Lib-ya an estimated $200 Million in lost revenue. However ongoing clashes in the area and the extensive damage caused to the facilities will likely pose a serious obstacle to resuming previous levels of oil production. Meanwhile pro-Libyan army forces have declared Ben Jawad a closed military zone, demanding that individuals evacuate the area in order to facilitate the Libyan Army’s efforts to rid the area of Libya Dawn militants.
HoR and General Hefters Air force has bombed Misratan locations several times over the last reporting peri-od with emphasis on the docks, training academy and more recently on the airport itself. Government sources are claiming to have carried out “direct and precise” air strikes on three targets in Misrata while they report heavy fighting between the army and Libya Dawn forces around Ben Jawad.
Both the ongoing fighting in the oil crescent and the explosion of a third suicide car bomb in as many months, this time outside the Dar Es Salaam Hotel in Tobruk, where the House of Representatives have been holding there sessions on 30 December 2014, have further damaged prospects for national dialogue talks which the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had claimed will begin today, 05 January 2015.
Although clashes have seemed to diminish in scope throughout Western Libya, skirmishes were reported at al Wattiya Airbase on 02 January, while the Libyan Army also claimed the same day to have seized complete control of al Assah, located next to the Tunisian-Libyan border.
The spread of Islamic State in Libya seems to be increasing with a brazen attack on a LNA checkpoint and accommodation in Sawknaw in the south west of Libya which saw nineteen LNA soldiers killed as they slept, which was reportedly claimed by an IS affiliated group.
Further kidnappings of Coptic Christians in Sirte occurred with thirteen men being taken from a residential compound on Saturday with no word on their fate yet. Seven were kidnapped a few days before and the murder of the Christian doctor, his wife and daughter occurred just a week before in the Sirte area.
There are reports that UAE has supplied General Hefters forces in Benghazi with several new Armoured Fighting Vehicles This may be to end the stalemate there with reports of heavily defended AAS positions in housing estates. The Situation in Benghazi is still very dangerous, with AAS dug in defensive positions in the south western housing areas of Hawari and the western gate area and with reports that booby traps and car bombs are in position ready for the LNA forces. Benghazi residents have also suffered 3 long days of power cuts and mobile phone disruptions, likewise fuel, common goods and gas bottles for cooking are in short supply. The shortages have resulted in fur-ther spikes in prices for essential products, such as candles and coal
An NGO has revealed statistics that there were a total of 2,803 violent deaths in Libya in 2014 with more than two thirds in Benghazi. Reports came out on the 04 January stating that Libya Dawn will not recognize Libyan visas issued in Malta by the HoR ‘’Embassy’’. The Libya Dawn Salvation government based in Tripoli, supported by the GNC and Misrata led militias, will not recognize Libyan visas issued by the Tobruk based House of Representatives (HoR) Abdullah Thinni recognized embassy in Malta. This report is still to be confirmed.
Due to the current ongoing unstable and unpredictable situation within Libya, SNE are recommending that clients only carry out business essential travel to Libya at present and these trips should only be undertaken within Tripoli city limits 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 sur-rounding 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 and fully operational 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 pack-age 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 in-formation 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
