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 enough and allows for remobilization. We have a vast amount of experience of supporting clients from the media, telecoms, power generation, Oil & Gas, Construction & NGO sectors. For more information on our services within Libya please email us at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk
There is no doubt that in our opinion Libya seems to be slowly but surely moving towards an announcement of a new “Unity Government” which with the backing of all the relevant stake holders has the potential to bring some security and stability to the country and address the Daesh issue.
The legitimate HoR Prime Minister Al Thinni reiterated his support for the rebuilding of state security institutions and his full support for the UN led political dialogue in Morocco which started again today. Speaking at an expanded government press conference in Beida on Saturday, Abdullah Thinni quashed suggestions that there were any tensions between his government and the Libyan National Army.
In another potentially positive move towards a unity government and peace, Libya's squabbling rival parliament the GNC, sacked its Prime Minister last Tuesday in a move that the assembly's spokesman said might help break a stalemate in negotiations with the United Nations to form a unity government. Several ministers threatened to resign unless Omar al-Hassi was removed, "The meeting of the GNC decided to oust Omar al-Hassi due to the government's lack of performance and complaints made by several ministers of the national salvation government, the spokesman of the General National Congress that established itself in the capital Tripoli stated that “The U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), is mediating at peace talks to form a unity government with the recognized administration based in the east of the country that could end the crisis. Humaidan said Hassi's dismissal could be a step towards an agreement with the Tobruk based parliament. Hassi's deputy Khalifa Mohamed Ghwail will lead the GNC until a new leader is named.
IS claimed responsibility for Sunday morning’s suicide truck bombing of a Misratan checkpoint, condemnation of the attack was quick to come from members of the House of Representatives, in what some are interpreting as an olive branch to Misrata, the senior partner in the Libya Dawn antigovernment movement and main component of the Libya Dawn collation militia group. Six people were killed and 21 injured when a suicide car bomb was detonated at the Sadada checkpoint in the east of the city of Misrata.
The Misrata based 166 brigade is currently operating in and around the areas of the city of Sirte against ‘‘IS’’ forces and imposed a curfew on Saturday and asked inhabitants of the city to keep away from areas where clashes are occurring. The report says that the curfew is from 10pm to 6am in the morning.
Zintan Military Council has said that although its fighters are part of the Libyan National Army, they will not enter Tripoli. The declaration came as the LNA yesterday announced it had retaken Aziziya, some 50 kilometres south of the capital, from Libya Dawn fighters following fierce fighting in the area, and that its forces were now based in the town’s stadium
The long disrupted Abu Attifel oil field near Jalu may be resuming production, following agreement with job seeking locals who had been partly responsible for the field’s shut-down. Production at the 70,000 b/d field operated and part-owned by Italy’s ENI, stopped in August 2013 following the occupation and closure of oil export terminals by secessionist protestors. The east of the country faces more blackouts because Sirte Oil company operations have been disrupted by demonstrators demanding the company gives them work. Blockades of offices and facilities over the last five days have finally forced the company to shut down operations.
Two Egyptian workers were reported killed in a random rocket attack in Benghazi’s central district of Juliana on Saturday and another eight, including children, were injured in a separate similar incident in the Sidi Abeid area. The latter were taken to the city’s Jelaa Hospital. Despite the attacks, blamed on Ansar Al-Sharia and its allies, the city has seemed much calmer in the past two or three days with a growing semblance of normality in many districts. Explosions are distinctly fewer in number and shops now continue to remain open, serving customers until between 11pm at night.
Due to the current ongoing unstable and unpredictable security situation within Libya, SNE are recommending that at this moment in time clients only carry out business essential travel trips to Libya, these trips should only be undertaken within Tripoli city limits and no movement should be attempted in the hours of darkness or near certain flash point areas such as Tripoli International Airport and surroundings districts, GNC buildings and hotels known to be frequented by internationals which could prove to be flash points for further incidents.
Due to the attack on the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli on the 27 January, hotels in Tripoli are now being looked at again from a security perspective and for the time being we recommend only using safe accommodation which has been authorised for use.
Locally employed client staff within Libya should continually practice extra vigilance and caution regarding their personal security, in addition anything classed as suspicious should be reported to the SNE Security Tripoli Operations Manager at the first opportunity.
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 at some point in the future.
SNE remains fully operational on the ground within Tripoli, where our mixed British and Libyan 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.
