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 most significant news this past week must be the findings of the Libyan Appeal court in Tripoli which announced death sentences on Saif Al Islam Ghaddafi along with eight other prominent members of the former regime. Since the announcement there have been protests and celebrations in several key towns and cities across Libya. Interestingly after the announcement was made the internationally recognised government in Tobruk, the HoR announced that there would be an amnesty for all persons who committed specified crimes under the former regime, murder and terrorism being among exempt crimes.
UNSMIL head Bernardino Leon met with a GNC delegation in Algiers on 31 July in an attempt at moving the process of forming a new government forward, at a press conference afterwards, Mr Leon said he hoped that there would be a further round of dialogue this coming week.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said on 01 July that he would be seeking greater backing for the UNSMIL peace plan, this comes amid reports from some sources that Western Governments may be planning to send ground troops into Libya to train local authorities and to launch attacks against Daesh strongholds. Multiple Sources have reported that the United Kingdom, United States, Italy, France, Spain and Germany reportedly will work together with the United Nations and The European Union on a military Intervention force to assist with training of security forces to rebuild Libya once a unity Government is in place.
The four Italian contractors kidnapped last week are still being held and an assessment by a Libyan Chief of Police in Sabrata stated that it is believed they are held by a criminal gang, possibly linked to people smuggling rather than Daesh, a further report claimed that negotiations were taking place to free the men.
Libya- Egypt Cross Border cooperation and strengthening of the long porous border was also discussed ths week during US led talks as it has long been exploited by Daesh and people smugglers to gain entry to Libya.
Algeria has agreed to open its border with Libya again and have already purchased 1600 new vehicles to patrol its Libyan and Tunisian border, both subject to easy movement by terrorists.
The European Commission announced on 03 August that they had made available funds of 6 Million Euros to assist with humanitarian relief efforts in Libya with an emphasis on homeless and displaced persons via various N.G.O’s who have carried out assessments on needy groups in Libya.
Libyan authorities handed over eight wanted Tunisian Nationals suspected of belonging to extreme Islamist Terror groups to Tunisian Authorities at the Ras Jdir border crossing during the last week.
In Misrata Central Hospital a nurse was chased and stabbed to death and another severely beaten by a drunken attacker.
Daesh in Libya have released a video threatening to kill General Hefter and members of the HoR, a spokesman for the terror group calling himself Abu Yahya Al Tunsi vows that Hefter and his associates will be slaughtered and he calls upon followers to go to the caliphate in Libya. They also remained active in the East this week in one show of force they attacked a Libyan National Army checkpoint on the Said road from Ajdabiya to Tobruk in the afternoon of 01 Aug, killing at least 5 Soldiers and apparently kidnapping 18 more.
Daesh also kidnapped 4 Indian teachers at a checkpoint West of Sirte although 2 have since been released, the fate of the remaining ones is unclear, so is the reason for the Daesh attack on a civilian hospital in Ajdabiya on 31 July which left 3 people wounded, the LNA replied to this senseless attack and carried out several airstrikes on Daesh positions around Ajdabiya within 24 hours destroyed many positions.
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.
