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 Migrant crisis continues unabated and the Geneva based "International Organisation for Migration" (I.O.M.) agency released records showing that 237,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year already with most landing in Spain, Italy and Malta. Tunisian records show at least 250,000 Libyans living in this neighbouring country, although Tunisian politicians put the numbers at more than 1 Million.
There is an air of expectation in Libya generally as the UNSMIL talks reconvene in Morocco on Thursday with all parties due to attend and recent publicised agreed support from the Arab League and International community. Libya's internationally recognised government with Arab League support is hoping to push the UN to lift the arms embargo.
Mustafa Rugibani, currently Libya's Ambassador to the Vatican and one of the more than two dozen candidates being considered by the House of Representatives (HoR) to be their nominee as prime minister in the new Government of National Accord is convinced that the General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli will rejoin the UN-brokered Dialogue process and approve the new administration, he spelled out in an interview this week
Tripoli remained major incident free this reporting period and with the recently re-enforced Libya Dawn check points on the notorious Western coastal road past Janzour and onto Ras Jdir Border Crossing point and likewise recently upgraded positions heading East to Misrata the spike in car-jacking's and random attacks has slowed, it is still not safe especially in the hours of darkness even most Libyans still choose to be safely home at night.
It was reported that GECOL have visited Istanbul this week to attempt to convince Turkish contracting companies to return to Libya and continue with re-fit work on various power stations, it is not reported to what degree of success they achieved but with at least two outstations that SNE have knowledge of being started and providing additional power the previously reported 12 hour daily power cuts have been reduced already despite soaring temperatures outside and an increased demand on the grid.
Tebu and Tuarag members this week united in a rare act of collaboration and walked out of the Constitution drafting assembly and with the recently drafted peace deal between these warring tribes still holding it adds some hope for the dangerous Southern Libya region, still rocked by criminality and apparently random killings as criminal gangs seek to gain territory.
The Mayor of Central Tripoli Mahdi Al Harati was removed from his post for incompetence however he has refused to leave and continues to occupy his office.
The expected Misrata led push to free Sirte from Daesh control hasn't yet begun other than Libya Dawn airstrikes on positions in the city and the Eastern based LNA air force have been carrying out numerous strikes on Daesh positions in Derna with some notable success.
Tobruk has seen further civil unrest with a number of peaceful demonstrations in the city.
Salloum border crossing point between Libya and Egypt has been reported as suffering from staff walkouts over pay and conditions, undoubtedly brought about by the Migrant smuggling crisis, historically it has always been a busy crossing point but staff now struggle to keep up with the demands on them.
Hundreds of illegal crossing points need patrolling along the porous border and the smuggling gangs are renowned for violence rather than being caught.
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.