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
In a very positive move this week, It was agreed in the peace talks held in Geneva that Operation Dignity and Libya Dawn forces would both agree to a ceasefire from midnight on the 18 January 2015. The UNSMIL National Dialogue talks held in Geneva have been hailed as a success, with further talks planned for next week to set out a “Road-map for Libya”.
Statements issued by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union (EU) and various nations regarding the talks in Geneva were unanimous in praise of the commitment and attitudes of the participants in the UN-led dialogue.
In a snub to the UN, the General National Congress has rejected taking part in the Geneva dialogue talks. At its regular Sunday session in Tripoli, it said that it would attend only if the talks took place in Libya. It pro-posed the south west border town of Ghat as the location. It also demanded that certain principles had to be accepted before it could join the dialogue. Such as upholding the objectives of the 17 February Revolution.
The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Bernardino Leon, has already stated that the principle of the 17 February agreement underpins the dialogue. However, Congress also wants the UN and the delegates attending the talks to accept in advance the Constitutional Supreme Court ruling which, as far as it and its supporters are concerned, makes it the only legitimate legislature in the country. This final demand is unlikely to be accepted and may yet course the talks to break down unless the GNC are willing to compromise and come to the table with an open mind for talks.
However taking all this into account, it is still likely that fighting will continue in Libya. Several factions within the Libya Dawn coalition refused to support the proposed ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Libyan Army has stipulated that although it has declared a ceasefire, it will continue to attack “terrorists” within the country. This means that the fighting within Benghazi is set to continue, and areas such as Derna could expect to see renewed Libyan Army military operations.
An explosion at the Algerian Embassy in Tripoli on the 17 January injured three Security guards, IS in Libya are claiming responsibility for the Explosion. The embassy itself was empty, as Algeria along with most other countries had evacuated its diplomatic staff last year. A group calling itself “The Islamic State in Tripoli” claimed responsibility for the attack on Twitter, however as yet this is still not confirmed.
Power-cuts continue daily in Tripoli, however the duration of the cuts are getting shorter which is a positive sign and are around three to five hours in duration now.
The Situation in Benghazi is looking more in hand and with Libyan National Army (LNA) Forces very much in control of the vast majority of the city. Fighters, believed to be members of Ansar Al-Sharia, launched a heavy barrage of mortars and rockets in some parts of Benghazi on Sunday evening. The areas affected were Leithi, Buatni and Shibna. The violence is thought to be a response to the Libya National Army’s announce-ment of ceasefire and there statement saying that the truce will not happen in Benghazi or Derna because there they are fighting terrorism.
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
