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
We are now well into the holy month of Ramadan which commenced on the 18 June. The security situation in Tripoli is good with no incidents of note during the last week. Understandably the entire region is a little tense at present after the attack in Tunisia which left at least 38 expats dead in the holiday destination of Sousse and the warnings coming out of IS social media of more attacks to come during Ramadan.
Some clashes have been reported between LNA forces and Libya Dawn on the outskirts of Janzour, west of Tripoli on Friday. Sources stated that the clash ensued after Libya Dawn blocked the roads with sand bags leading to the coastal road in the area. It was later reported that the forces in control of the area of Sawani were not a result of an LNA advance from the south but more of an incursion by affiliates in Washerfana to the west of the road, therefor extending its area of operations east for a period for a period of time, It’s understood that the Washerfana force did expel Libya Dawn militias from a specific Check Point on Sawani that was restricting freedom of movement of civilians in the area.
The Consumer Service Department (CSD) in the General Electricity Company (GECOL), has launched an awareness campaign to help limit the consumption of electricity in western Libya. The CSD indicated that this campaign targets all of the society’s components as well as the governmental institutions to raise awareness of the bad effects of electricity overuse on the electricity network’s efficiency. The campaign distributes leaflets to people and glues stickers on stores and buildings’ walls to educate people about the consumption of electricity.
The latest UN-sponsored Dialogue negotiations in the Moroccan resort of Skhirat have taken an unexpected break after General National Congress (GNC) delegation decided to return to Tripoli last night to consult with their colleagues about amendments to Draft No. 4. The amended draft was given to them yesterday and they were reported to have refused to agree to it. Others attending at the talks, including foreign ambassadors, have also left Morocco but say they hope to return as soon as possible for a final agreement.
At a press conference, the UN Special Envoy, Bernardino Leon said that both the GNC and the House of Representatives (HoR) teams had left for consultations and that they would return on Wednesday and the session would resume on Thursday and that he expected the whole draft to then be finally approved.
The head of the Libyan armed forces, Major General Khalifa Hafter, has appointed the Deputy Interior Minister dealing with illegal immigration, Ahmed Baraka, to be in charge of security at Labraq airport. Security at the airport is seen as weak and fears of an attack by IS militants are very real in the present security circumstances in the region.
Benghazi’s Leithi district has become notorious as the worst of the cities areas, with it becoming a bastion first of Ansar Al-Sharia (AAS) and then of Islamic State (IS) forces with their snipers taking a deadly toll on Libyan soldiers (LNA) and the local people and still no real sign of the LNA getting full control of this particular district of Benghazi. Also reports this week of four randomly fired missiles which landed in a primary school playground in Benghazi’s Sidi Hussein district during Ramadan. Also In what appears to have been a highly accurate strike, the Libyan Air Force claims to have destroyed a vessel bringing ammunition to Ansar Al-Sharia fighters in Benghazi by boat on Monday night.
Reports this week of ongoing clashes between LNA and Ansar al-Sharia forces on the western entrance of Derna on Sunday with twelve LNA and seven Ansar Al Sharia killed and several others wounded from both sides. Military source stated that Ansar Al-Sharia forces attempted to get past the western LNA check point which initiated the clash. In addition, LNA forces called on local residents to remain in their homes and stay away from the fighting.
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.
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 stabilises and allows for travel.
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.
