This reporting week has seen further positive moves forward made by the President of the Unity Government, Fayez Serraj, as he continues to gain a firm foothold in Libya.
Since the Presidential Council’s arrival in the capital, its popular support has grown markedly. Municipal councils and elected administrative councils have continued to come out in support of it, while the National Oil Corporation, members of the oil facilities guard, and the Central Bank of Libya have also declared their support and begun working with the council.
Less than a week after the arrival of the Unity Government, a shock statement was made from the so called National Salvation Government "We inform you that we are stopping our work as an executive power, as the presidency and ministers of the government," said the statement by the self-declared National Salvation government. However less than twenty for hours later, and contradicting an announcement that his so-called National Salvation Government was ready to step aside, Tripoli’s unrecognised Prime Minister Khalifa Ghwell on Wednesday night, urged his ministers not to stand down and threatened to prosecute anyone working with the new government.
“Given the requirements of public interest you are requested to continue your mission in accordance with the law," Mr Ghwell said.
On the political front in the east, the Tobruk based House of Representatives once again failed, for the eight time, to come together to endorse the National Unity Government headed by Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj due to lack of quorum. Later reports published had said that the First Deputy president of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) announced today that the HoR will meet no later than April 18 to discuss and vote on the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) and the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Following the arrival of the Unity Government last week, several Arab and Western countries announced their desire to reopen their embassies and consulates and resume work of their diplomatic missions from Tripoli. The Italian Foreign ministry announced the resumption of its diplomatic mission in Tripoli by the end of the month, while Tunisia announced it would soon reopen its embassy and consulate in Tripoli. Turkey also announced its intention to reopen its diplomatic mission in Tripoli as announced by the envoy of the Turkish President.
The security situation in the capital has remained relatively stable since the arrival of the Unity Government, however heavy gunfire was heard at weekend from the Mehari Radisson Hotel, above the Bu Sitta naval base where the presidential council are staying. It is believed that there had been a ‘’misunderstanding’’ the RADA force said that they had intervened to stop the shooting. Reports suggested that that there was a dispute between 155 Brigade members and armed men from the Zawiyat Addahmani district as to who should be carrying out a patrol of the naval base.
Libya's oil fields have been frequent targets of attacks by Daesh in recent months. Due to a heightened threat by Daesh in the east of an attack on the oilfields, several oil field sites had been partially or fully evacuated at the weekend. An oil field official, said that the Wafa oil field had been completely evacuated, while the Tibesti and Bayda fields were partially evacuated.
Clashes and airstrikes have continued in Benghazi during the reporting week. The LNA continue to carry out attacks and airstrikes on known Daesh and Ansar Al Sharia positions in Ganfouda, Sabri, Hawary and Benina.
SNE continues to keep our permanent expat country management team on the ground in Tripoli supporting our clients international and local personnel as well as critical infrastructure. We are also currently involved in working with many of our clients on their re-entry planning, security risk management surveys and political sector analysis. To discuss these services further please contact us on the details below.
Libya Security Report Subscription Service
SNE Libya Security Summaries are only supplied to existing Libya clients and those who subscribe to our weekly reporting service. For further information on how to subscribe and our monthly costs, please contact our Dubai management team at office@snegroup.co.uk The attached Libya security update has been produced by our Tripoli based in-country management team and covers the various security risks, recent incidents, political landscape and geography in both the west and east of Libya.
HEAT & Basic Life Support Two Day Training Courses
SNE are now offering bespoke Libya oriented or generic MENA Hostile Environment Awareness & Basic Life Support Medical Training Courses in Dubai or your home country prior to deploying back into Libya, or in country training for those who require this service in Tripoli. Please contact our Dubai Head Office for more information on these courses at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk
Egypt
In addition to Libya, SNE Special Projects also provide weekly security summaries to clients with an interest in Egypt and have an operations centre in Cairo providing an executive protection team capability along with project management and crisis management throughout the country. For more information on these services please contact our Dubai head office at: specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk
For further information on all our services and for actual support on the ground in Libya please feel free to contact us 24/7 on +218 911713972 or +971 508764175
