The U.N. envoy to Libya stated this week that it's time for the newly formed unity government to work after the arrival of its chief in the Tripoli capital. Martin Kobler told reporters in Cairo on Thursday that "it’s one thing to have an agreement with words and another thing is to implement the agreement."
The Government of National Accord (GNA) has this week continued to establish itself taken control of seven ministries in Tripoli including the foreign ministry, as it pushes to extend its control over the capital. Mohamed al-Ammari, a member of the new government's leadership, or Presidential Council, said the transfer of power was "going well". The other ministries that have been handed over were housing and public utilities, transport, social affairs, local government, youth and sports and Islamic affairs. The planning, labour, and education ministries would be handed over in the next few days.
Yet the unity government is still awaiting a crucial vote of confidence by the country's eastern-based, internationally recognised parliament.
President Obama has been touring Europe in which he held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande. Merkel gave a brief statement after the talks, saying that the five nations would "do everything to work together" to support the new government but adding that the leaders had not discussed a potential deployment by the NATO military alliance.
This slightly contradicts the Italian defence minister Roberta Pinotti who said NATO is three months from launching a naval mission off Libya under a controversial plan to close the Western Mediterranean migrant route to Europe and begin mass repatriations, The Libya mission is set to be approved by alliance leaders at a Warsaw summit on 7 July.
On return last week of UK’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, acknowledged the severity of the threat on Europe's doorstep as a new government in Tripoli battles to exert some control said nothing should be ruled out, adding Royal Air Force or Royal Navy assets could also be deployed alongside the Army.
The capital has continued to remain extremely quiet since the arrival of the GNA, with only minor incidents and a release of hostages which reflects more criminality then political. This mirrors the West of the country with no report of disturbances.
Europe’s migration problem continues from the as the United Nations refugee agency said that as many as 500 people may have lost their lives this past week when an overcrowded boat carrying refugees and migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea at an unknown location between Libya and Italy. The boat had departed Tobruk.
In the east of the country Islamic State fighters retreated from long-held positions around the port city of Derna on Wednesday, as troops loyal to the government in the region pressed on with an offensive in Benghazi.
Eastern military forces have reported heavy fighting to the west in Benghazi, where they have taken several neighbourhoods from fighters loyal to Islamic State and other groups. Clashes continued there on Wednesday, and the military said it had nearly full control of the southern district of Guwarsha.
On Thursday air strikes carried out overnight against Islamist fighters in Derna produced success after Islamic State militants retreated from positions close to the city as General Khalifa Haftar, the head of the armed forces, has ordered continued cleansing operations in the area.
Clearance and holding operations are taking place however, this is a slow process with casualties’ being inflicted by mines and booby traps.
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
