After last week’s rejection by the House of Representatives (HoR) of the second Government of National Accord (GNA) line-up, this week has seen the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States welcome the statement of the Presidency Council (PC) and the announcement of its intention to submit a revised list of Government of National Accord (GNA) Ministers to the House of Representatives (HoR).
The Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States look forward to the prompt transmission of this list to the HoR, and urge the HoR to vote in its entirety, on the revised GNA Cabinet within ten days, as foreseen in the Libyan Political Agreement. Members of the HoR are responsible for taking this next vital step in implementing the Libya Political Agreement, which provides the only means to restore peace and stability in Libya.
The EU began training Libya’s coastguards two years ago, but had to suspend activities due to the security situation. This week however saw Libya sign a new deal with the EU to restart training the coastguards in a bid to cut off the migration influx. The agreement was signed on Tuesday by the Italian Rear Admiral Enrico Credendino, who heads up the EU’s anti-smuggler operation Sophia, and by Libyan commodore Abdalh Toumia, who runs the country’s coastguard on behalf of the GNA, its UN-backed authority. Credendino said it would “improve the security of Libyan territorial waters” and help Libya to “perform law enforcement actions in order to tackle the criminal organisations that take advantage of smuggling and trafficking in human beings.”
Tripoli and the west has finally seen the Janzour district agreeing to reopen the coastal road that links Tripoli with Warshefana and Al-Zawiya. This decision came on Thursday and has followed long-hours of negotiations between the Al-Zawiya, Warshefana and Janzour security units. The chief of patrols in Ferzan Janzour Brigade, Jalal Basheer, confirmed that the reopening of the road from Janzour came after the parties agreed on a joint force, together with Warshefana and Al-Zawiya security units, to be tasked with securing the road.
Over the last three months Libyan Forces led by the Misrata brigades have continued to push Daesh out of Sirte, sustaining many casualties and deaths during each of the surges. On Sunday it was reported that the final push was imminent. Progress however has been slowed by suicide bombings, sniper fire and Landmines, but already Daesh have conceded several hundred meters of ground near to the seafront. United States bombers have continued to carry out sorties on Daesh, and it was reported that Daesh had attempted five car bombings on the Libyan forces in just one day, in a desperate bid to stop the relentless advance of the Libyan forces. Virtually all of the city's 80,000 residents fled when Daesh took over Sirte last year, but the remainder this week had a chance to escape.
In the east, Benghazi has seen continued air strikes being carried out by the Libyan National Army (LNA) on militant positions within the areas of Qanfudah and Al Qawarishah, with minimum casualties being reported. Later, in Al Qawarishah area, it was reported that militants had fired mortar shells on an ambulance that was transporting LNA fighters, which subsequently injured two medical personnel.
In the area of Al Jouf, Gandfouda on Thursday, the prompt action of a tank driver saved countless lives by blocking a Militant who was driving a Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) from reaching a large amount of LNA forces. However, on detonation of the VBIED, at least three soldiers died and ten were injured. The injured and dead soldiers were from the 309 brigade.
A Bangladeshi nurse was found dead in the Taballino area of Benghazi on Wednesday. The woman, whose name was not disclosed, was brutally stabbed to death in her flat in Taballino district. The Bangladeshi nurse was working in Ibn Sina Polyclinic, one of the Libyan Red Crescent's health institutions.
Janus Global Operations continues to keep our permanent expat country management team on the ground in Tripoli supporting our client’s 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
Janus Global Operations 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 jason.woods@janusgo.com. 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
Janus Global Operations 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 jason.woods@janusgo.com
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 or visit our website www.janusgo.com
