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. 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 UN Sponsored peace talks held on Morocco adjourned temporarily this week and UNSMIL chief Bernardino Leon flew to Brussels for talks with other municipal representatives. Later on Monday evening a frustrated Bernardino Leon flew back out of Tobruk after reports that angry crowds blocked his way from the airport after a surprise short notice trip into the town where he had planned to meet House of Representatives President Ageela Salah. The UNSMIL boss also stated this week that a Libyan municipalities council should play a key political role in the new Libya.
HoR PM Al Thinni`s government staked further claim on oil revenues through the Benghazi based NOC. Thinni`s government warned against attempts at illegal crude oil sales outside its recognized Benghazi based NOC. Also this week ENI made a significant offshore discovery at the Bahr Essalam South exploration field.
With a parting “Masalaamah”, US envoy to Libya, Deborah Jones announced she is ending her ambassadorial presence on Twitter. The Malta-based Jones said she was quitting because of the abuse she had received. She explained: “I have from time to time gone on strike against Twitter militias and those who resort to vulgar personal attacks in lieu of educated arguments”.
Reports are coming out that the battle for Sirte between Libya Dawn and Daesh is intensifying. Libya Dawn forces and Islamic State (IS / Daesh) followers have been fighting in Sirte since 14 March and the battle is getting closer and closer to the downtown area. Both sides appear based on reports coming out to be ready to fight to the end. Daesh issued a video this week stating they will turn Sirte and Misrata into “a hell like Fallujah” referring to Iraq’s Islamist hotbed city. They stated they will send suicide bombers to Misrata, a city already on heightened alert following car bomb attack last week.
Well known, controversial Militia Leader Bouka Al Araibi was killed in fierce fighting. Benghazi’s militant leader Mohamed Al-Araibi, more commonly known as Bouka, was killed in fighting on Monday in the city’s Gwarsha district. The death was announced by Al-Nabaa TV, seen as sympathetic to the Benghazi Revolutionaries’ Shoura Council, of which Bouka’s Brega Martyr’s Brigade was a part. Nuri Abu Sahmain, the president of the continuing General National Congress is reported to have expressed his condolences at the fighter’s demise.
Al Thinni`s HoR Government is still seeking to make new contracts with International companies to supply 750mw of power in the East of Libya. Tripoli has long run with no power-cuts and fuel is in good supply.
Tuaregs are demanding that Chief of Staff Major General Abdul Razzaq Al-Nazhuri apologize for calling them “terrorists”, in an interview on Friday, Nazhuri said that the current fighting in Obari is a war by the Libyan National Army (LNA) against terrorism.
General Hefter gave a talk to the associated press warning of Daesh infiltrating Europe unless international assistance is given to his forces to fight them in the east of Libya. Meanwhile the Benghazi death toll rises despite Hefter claims of taking 85% of the city.
Renewed fighting broke out for control of Al-Brak Military base North of Sabha, a very strategic point with access roads leading East and West of Libya.
The Ras Jdir Border Crossing Point remains open despite the Daesh attack in Tunis this past week and claims that the perpetrators were trained in Libya.
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
