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 or visit our website www.snespecialprojects.co.uk
The atmospherics in Tripoli have continued to be good and people are going about their daily business as normal. with shops open and over seven days of uninterrupted mains power supply. The strikes and delays at Tripoli Mitiga Airport seem to of been resolved with most flights landing and taking off on time this last week with no significant delays due to the baggage handling issues. Electric has again been reasonably reliable in Tripoli apart from a couple of short three to four our cuts. People are preparing for the start of Ramadan on or around the 18 June with an optimistic view that a unity government could be formed sometime in the near future to bring all the opposing sides together to combat the ever increasing threat of IS in Libya.
On Thursday, in a dramatic speech, UNSMIL boss Bernadino Leon told the rival delegates at the peace talks in the Moroccan resort of Skirhat that whole of Libya was watching them. The new and sixth round of dialogue will commence with urgent calls on the Libyan parties to assume the historical responsibility of preserving Libya’s national interest. The UNSMIL indicated that a military solution will by no means solve the Libyan crisis, so all parties must cling to every chance that leads to a political settlement, urging the Libyan political figures to get sincerely involved in the dialogue so that they reach a political concord and end the conflict.
The foreign ministers of Egypt, Italy and Algeria wrapped up talks in Cairo yesterday with a call for a political solution in Libya. Before they were joined by Algerian foreign minister, Abdelkader Messahel, Egypt’s Sameh Al-Shukri and Italy’s Paolo Gentiloni who had a separate meeting. Egypt has been insisting that the UN arms embargo be lifted to allow the Libyan government in Beida to give the LNA better arms and equipment “to fight terrorism”.Gentiloni meanwhile has expressed his government’s view that it might very well be necessary for the international community to take action against IS in Libya. This stance was echoed yesterday by the Spanish Foreign Minister Pedro Morenes who argued that since IS was being fought in Iraq and Syria, it should also be fought in Libya. Shukri repeated that his country supported Libya’s internationally recognised government and army in “fighting terrorism.” The press briefing however focused on the need for a government of National Unity to be agreed at the UNSMIL talks. Gentiloni said that once Libya has such a government, it would be possible to address the rising crisis of IS and the migrants being poured across the Mediterranean by Libyan people smugglers.
The Central Bank of Libya spokesman appears to have been kidnapped on Sunday for a second time in Tripoli, meanwhile the Kidnapped Mellitah Oil manager was freed unharmed on Thursday, though it is unclear if a ransom has been paid.
A Tarhouna checkpoint was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Fum Malgha gateway, halfway between Tarhouna and Esbaieh late on Sunday evening. Reports stated that three were killed as well as vehicles and weapons being seized by attackers. Unconfirmed reports from local resident say that only one guard was killed but several others were kidnapped. A mortar was also reported to hit a clinic in the town, but it is unknown if the two incidents are connected.
Janzour municipal councilor Khairi Al-Randi and Zintan mayor Mustafa Barouni have announced collaboration moves pending the “full liberation of Janzour”. In a statement following a visit by Randi to Zintan, the two said they would work together to provide services in those areas of Janzour municipality now under the control of the Libya National Army, these being Al-Hashan, Siyad, Najila and Zawia Al-Amura, The collaboration would continue until “the liberation of the remaining areas controlled by Dawn militias operating under the expired General National Congress
Clashes have been ongoing between the LNA and Ansar al-Sharia in Benghazi for the past four days leaving at least two dead and fourteen wounded which was announced on Sunday. This Information was given by medical sources under anonymity for security purposes. IS forces are said to of kill two Christian Eritrean migrants after stopping a truck carrying 75 illegal immigrants on Wednesday in the Masuda area intersection, 5 km west of Nofaliya.
Due to the current ongoing unstable and unpredictable security situation within Libya, SNE are recommend-ing 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 2015, 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.
Extra vigilance and anti-surveillance drills should be adopted when arriving into and leaving out of Tripoli Mitiga airport due to the risk of IS sympathisers picking up on your presence and following you to your safe villa and office locations.
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 Al Aziah and other surrounding areas where fighting is still ongoing between the Zintan (LNA) and Misrata (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 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 at some point in the future.
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.
