International actors

On 18 December, the UN’s newly appointed Special Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, met with the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) at its...

On 12 December, UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the newly-appointed Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Libya, Stephanie...

A Turkish frigate has been reported off the coast of the Abu Sittah naval base. Later in the week, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense posted...

On 8 December, the 5+5 JMC travelled to Moscow to discuss their Action Plan for the withdrawal of foreign fighters from Libya with Russian...

On 6 December, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he was appointing former acting UN Envoy to Libya and former Deputy Head of the...

On 3 December, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Director of Moral Guidance Department stated that the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC)...

On 25 November, the Turkish National Security Council, following a meeting chaired by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, released a statement...

Last week, it was reported that France’s Central Office for Combatting Crimes Against Humanity, Genocide and War Crimes (OCLCH) was investigating...

On 24 November, UN Special Envoy to Libya, Jan Kubis, addressed the UN Security Council where he confirmed his resignation from his position with...

On 23 November, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and UN Special Envoy to Libya, Jan...

On 14 November, the Chief of General Staff of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Defence, Mohammed Haddad, met with a Russian...

On 11 November, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) representatives from the Libyan National Army (LNA) issued a statement announcing that, at...

On 4 November, Emraji al-Emmami, a member of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), stated that the JMC would be meeting separately with officials...

On 2 November, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 150 Syrian mercenaries had returned to Syria, with a fresh cohort of the...

On 30 October, members of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) convened in Cairo to discuss the withdrawal of foreign operatives from southern...

On 26 October the UN Security Council added Osama al-Koni Ibrahim, who manages the Nasr Detention Centre, to its sanctions list, accusing him of...

On 21 October, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, after attending the...

On 15 October, 5+5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) member, Lieutenant General Faraj al-Sawsaa, stated that observers from the United Nations would...

On 13 October, a batch of Syrian forces based in Tripoli were reportedly repatriated from Libya back to Syria by Turkey via Watiyya airbase. More...

On 12 October, Cypriot media reported that US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents were in Cyprus heading to Paphos International Airport to...

On 10 October, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States in Libya issued a joint statement welcoming the...

On 9 October, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) issued a statement condemning the killing of six migrants and at least 24 injured...

On 5 October, Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI reported that during September 2021 it had investigated 215 merchant vessels via radio calls (out of...

On 5 October, Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI reported that during September 2021 it had investigated 215 merchant vessels via radio calls (out of...

On 3 October, Government of National Unity (GNU) Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush, confirmed during a conference in Kuwait that ‘some’ foreign...

On 29 September, Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba travelled to Niamey to meet with Nigerien president Mohammed...

On 29 September, the Commander of the US Military Command in Africa (ARICOM), General Stephen Townsend and US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland,...

On 26 September, operatives from the Russian private military contractor (PMC) Wagner Group reportedly began to withdraw from Jufra and Sirte’s...

On 21 September, Greek media reported that UN experts are scheduled to arrive in Cyprus in November to inspect a plane in a warehouse at Paphos...

On 20 September, two Airbus A400 Turkish military cargo plans took off from Isparta in southwestern Turkey and landed at Al-Watiya Air Base.

On 17 September, France and Chad denied accusations from FACT that they had been involved in military operations against FACT in southern Libya. The...

On 16 September, LNA reinforcements and helicopters arrived in Tmassah as clashes reportedly resumed between LNA and FACT forces north of Aouzou...

On 14 September, Libyan National Army (LNA) Tariq Bin Zayed (TBZ) Special Task Force, following orders from Saddam Haftar, led an assault against...

On 11 September, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Ministry of Defence (MoD) posted images online highlighting Libyan naval officers...

On 8 September, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Saiqa Battalion of 106 Brigade returned to Libya from training in Egypt, having graduated from...

On 3 September, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres circulated a report to the United Nations Security Council in which he urged...

On 3 September, the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), issued a statement expressing ‘grave concern about ongoing armed clashes, including the...

On 31 August, the Moral Guidance Department for the Libyan Army, aligned with the Government of National Unity (GNU), reported that the selection...

On 30 August, Syrian mercenaries protested in Yarmouk and Souk al-Khamis Camps, due to delays in receiving payments and salary reductions. The...

On 26 August UNSMIL issued a statement welcoming the formation of a joint unit composed of LNA and Misratan fighters assigned with protecting the...

On 24 August, the Government of National Unity (GNU) Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Haddad and an accompanying delegation reportedly visited the Turkish...

On 19 August, Government of National Unity Minister of Foreign Affairs, Najla Mangoush, met with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in...

On 18 August, following military activity in Al-Shwayrif, the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), called on Libyan parties ‘to refrain from any...

On 17 August, Chief of Staff Mohammed al-Haddad met in Istanbul with Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, where the two sides discussed bilateral...

In the last week, Bloomberg published an article citing informed sources to claim that Russia is working to have Saif al-Islam Qadhafi elected as...

On 11 August, the American Ambassador and Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland, met in Cairo with Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa...

On 11 August, the BBC published an exposé on the presence of the Wagner group in Libya following the BBC’s discovery of a tablet left behind by an...

On 7 August, Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI signed a working arrangement with the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya). The...

On 7 August, the Syrian news network Suwayda 24 reported that a young man from As-Suwayda (southwestern Syria) was killed in Libya, alongside a...

On 31 July, the Libyan National Army (LNA) is reported to have undertaken an airstrike targeting Chadian rebels near the Chadian-Libyan border....

On 31 July, Attorney General Sadiq al-Sour travelled to Cairo, where he met with his Egyptian counterpart, Hamada al-Sawi. During his visit, Sour...

On 29 July, in a trilateral meeting between the leaders of Greece, Jordan and Cyprus in Athens, a joint statement was issued, stressing the...

On 27 July, Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Aqeela Saleh stated that Turkey was sending a stockpile of military weapons to Libya to be...

On 27 July, Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Aqeela Saleh stated that Turkey was sending a stockpile of military weapons to Libya to be...

On 26 July, the GNU Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant-General Mohammed al-Haddad, the GNU Chief of Land Forces al-Fitouri Gribel, the GNU Commander...

On 31 July, the UN Security Council (UNSC) is due to receive an independent strategic review of the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL). The...

On 31 July, the UN Security Council (UNSC) is due to receive an independent strategic review of the UN Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL). The...

On 22 July, the Democracy and Human Rights Foundation (DHRF) released a statement claiming to have received intelligence that regular Russian...

On 19 July, Libyan TV channel 218 claimed that Turkish military officers had entered Bani Walid following operations of the 444 Brigade. It is...

On 15 July, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held a meeting on Libya chaired by French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian and attended...

On 15 July, the Italian Chamber of Deputies voted to renew Italy’s funding to train the Libyan coast guard. On the same day, Amnesty International...

On 29 April, the fourth round of 5+5 JMC talks concluded in Sirte. On 3 May, a high-level Turkish delegation was received in Tripoli by the GNU to discuss strengthening the relations between the two countries.

On 24 April, the US Ambassador to Libya gave an interview stating that he believed members FACT had been trained by Wagner in Libya. On 26 April, Amnesty International reported that military courts in eastern Libya have convicted hundreds of civilians in unfair military trials’. Last week, the “Libya Stabilization Act” passed the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC).

On 11 April, FACT, the Libya-based Chadian rebel group, launched an attack in northern Chad. On 15-16 April, the GNU Prime Minister held talks in Moscow. On 16 April, the UNSC adopted resolution 2570.

On 12 April, Dabaiba and Erdoğan reaffirmed their commitment to the 2019 maritime agreement between Turkey and the GNA. On the same day Dabaiba met the Turkish Minister of Defence and discussed Turkey’s continued military assistance. On 12 April, the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Benghazi to hold meetings with Libyan officials

On 30 March, the Chinese Ambassador to Libya stated that China intends to reopen its Embassy in Tripoli. On 31 March, the Russian Foreign Minister stated that Russia will support Libya’s planned elections. On 6 April, Italy’s Prime Minister met the GNU Prime Minister in Tripoli.

On 25 March, the Egyptian President met the President of Libya’s Presidential Council, to discuss bilateral relations. On 26 March, the President of Libya’s Presidential Council met the Turkish President. On 27 March, the Head of UNSMIL, Jan Kubis, met the commander of the LNA, Khalifa Haftar.

On 26 March, the President of Libya’s Presidential Council Mohammed Menfi and Vice-President Abdullah al-Lafi met the Turkish President Recep Tayeb...

On 18 March, the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Russia had discussed reopening of Russia’s Embassy in Tripoli, with Dabaiba. On 21 March, the EU High Representative announced that Operation IRINI will be extended for a further two years. On 22 March, the EU imposed sanctions on the Kaniyat militia leaders. On 22 March, GNU Prime Minister held a call with the US Secretary of State.

On 23 March, the President of Libya’s Presidential Council (PC) Mohammed Menfi, accompanied by PC member Musa al-Koni, met President Emmanuel Macron...

On 22 March, the European Union imposed sanctions on Mohammed al-Kani, the former leader of the Kaniyat militia, and his brother Abdul Rahim al-Kani...

On 22 March, GNU Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba held a call with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. According to the US State...

On 21 March, the Italian Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, met GNU Prime Minister, Abdul Hameed Dabaiba, in Tripoli. They discussed bilateral...

On 8 March, the UAE reportedly transferred military equipment and personnel to an Egyptian military base at Sidi Barrani. On 12 March, the GNA stated that Russian and Sudanese mercenaries have returned to Sirte following their brief withdrawal.

On 3 March, Israel’s Environment Protection Minister claimed a ‘Libyan-owned pirate vessel’ committed an “act of environmental terrorism” against Israel. On 4 March, the Head UNSMIL met the Russian Foreign in Moscow to discuss political and economic developments in Libya. On 5 March, reports emerged that the Russian Wagner PMC has transferred a new group of mercenaries from Syria to fight in Libya.

On 22 February, the President of the Chechen Republic discussed training for Libyan special forces with Libya’s Prime Minister designate. On 23 February, the UN Office of Military Affairs and Police stated it had the capacity to monitor the Libyan ceasefire on the ground if this is requested by the UN. On 27 February, The Times reported that that Wagner PMCs ‘no longer pretend to work for Haftar and the LNA’.

On 21 February, Reuters revealed that a report submitted to the UNSC states that Erik Prince provided private military services to the LNA. This week, members of the 5+5 JMC travelled to Moscow to discuss the ‘unofficial Russia presence’ in Libya via the Wagner Group. Reports also emerged that technicals belonging to Sudanese mercenaries departed Libya.

On 8 February, the Russian Foreign Minister, spoke to the new Prime Minister designate for Libya and the new President of the Presidency Council. On 15 February, an Egyptian delegation arrived in Tripoli to explore the reopening of the Egyptian embassy in the Libyan capital.

On 2 February, the UN published its Panel of Experts report on Sudan including details of the UAE’s involvement with the LNA in Libya. On 4 February, the UNSC instructed the UNSG to deploy international monitors in Libya. On 5 February, the LPDF elected Abdul Hameed Dabaiba as the new Prime Minister for Libya. On 6 February, the 5+5 JMC agreed to clear mines from Sirte ahead of the reopening of the coastal road.

On 27 January, the GNA’s Minister of Defence in the GNA, announced that 1,300 soldiers have received military training with Turkish forces in Libya. On 28 January, The Times reported that a Russian air defence missile system was secretly flown from Zuwwara to a US air base in Germany. On 28 January, the Acting Head of UNSMIL, Stephanie Williams, called on the UNSC to pass a resolution to dissolve all parallel executive entities. On 1 February, the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) opened in Geneva.

On 21 January, UNSMIL announced the start of the nomination period for the submission of candidates for the three-member Presidency Council (PC) and the post of Prime Minister. On 23 January, the 90-day deadline for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, as agreed in the October 23 ceasefire, passed largely unheeded.

On 15 January, the UNSC approved Jan Kubis as the new SRSG and Head of UNSMIL to replace Stephanie Williams. On 19 January, UNSMIL announced that the LPDF has agreed on a mechanism for selecting the reformed PC and new executive authority in Libya.

On 6 January, UNSMIL announced that it had convened the second virtual meeting of the LPDF’s Advisory Committee. On 9 January, UNSMIL issued a statement announcing its “expectation” that international monitors will be deployed to support Libya’s 5+5 ceasefire agreement. 

On 29 December, the GNA Foreign Minister met with his Russian counterpart to discuss political and military developments in Libya. On 30 December, the UNSG wrote to the members of the UNSC requesting the creation of a security monitoring group for Libya. On 2 January, the Acting Head UNSMIL, issued a statement announcing that UNSMIL had formed an Advisory Committee for the LPDF.

On 23 December, the Turkish parliament approved the deployment of troops to Libya for a further 18 months. On 26 December, Turkish Defence Minister and a Turkish Military delegation arrived in Tripoli for meetings with the GNA. On 27 December, an Egyptian delegation arrived in Tripoli for an official visit.

On 16 December, the GNA’s Interior Minister met with the US Ambassador to Libya to discuss security cooperation between the US and the GNA. On 17 December, the Italian Prime Minister met with Haftar to review developments in the Libyan-Libyan dialogues. On 19 December, the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service reportedly met with Haftar to discuss joint security issues.

On 10 December, the LNA spokesman declared that Libya was in a ‘state of war’ with Turkey. On 10 December, the GNA released two Russian citizens who had been held on charges of election meddling. On 12 December, the Turkish presidency submitted a motion to the Turkish parliament to extend troop deployment in Libya.

Over the last week, there have been signs that international actors are stepping up military engagement, potentially violating the permanent ceasefire agreement. On 4 December, the GNA signed a military cooperation agreement with Italy to strengthen capacities in training and health care activities. On 6 December, the SOHR reported that Turkey was preparing to send a new batch of Syrian fighters to Libya. On the same day, a document surfaced dating back to November revealing that 1,200 soldiers from the Sudanese paramilitary RSF were given permission to be deployed at Jufra airbase.

On 25 November, the US unilaterally blacklisted the Kaniyat militia. On 24 November, Speaker of the HoR, Saleh, arrived in Moscow to meet with Russian officials. On 23 November, the 5+5 JMC met with the Security Working Group formed through the so-called Berlin process of January 2020 to brief the international community.

On 23 November, Germany accused Turkey of preventing German forces belonging to the EU mission Operation IRINI from fully searching a Turkish cargo ship. The same day Sputnik reported that the speaker of the HoR, Saleh, would be visiting Moscow soon. On 20 November, UNSG Guterres told the UNSC that he would name Bulgarian politician, Nikolai Mladenov, as the new UN Special Envoy to Libya. On 18 November, the USs House of Representatives voted to pass the Libya Stabilization Act. On 18 November, GNA MoI, Bashaagha traveled to Paris for several days.

On the evening of 15 November, the UN-facilitated LPDF concluded its discussions in Tunis. On 17 November, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the Libyan capital of Tripoli and the city of Misrata. On 12 November, GNA Defence Minister al-Namroush met in Doha with Qatari Foreign Minister and Deputy PM Abdurrahman al-Thanni.

On 9 November, the UN-facilitated dialogue process known as the LPDF began its first meetings in Tunis. On 3 November, Acting Head of UNSMIL, Williams, said that a meeting of the JMC had led to agreements for implementing the ceasefire that had been announced on 23 October. On 4 November, GNA MoI Bashaagha arrived in Cairo to discuss security cooperation with Egyptian officials. On 5 November, representatives from the HoR and the HCS met in Morocco for a third round of talks. On 6 November, the US Ambassador to Libya, Norland, spoke with GNA Foreign Minister Siyala about the US intention to secure a property in the capital Tripoli.

On 1 November, Acting Head of UNSMIL, Williams met with Deputy PM of the GNA, Maiteeq to discuss the LPDF. On 1 November, head of the HCS, al-Mishri and an accompanying delegation arrived in Doha to meet with the emir of Qatar, al-Thani. On 1 November, the Russian representative to the UNSC, Nebenzia, reportedly announced Russia’s full support for the exit of all foreign mercenaries from Libya. On 2 November, the US Ambassador to Libya, Norland, travelled to Moscow. On 31 October, Speaker of HoR, Saleh arrived in Cairo.

Several countries and international organizations welcomed the ceasefire announcement from 23 October. On 25 October, UNSMIL released the names of 75 delegates invited to participate in the LPDF. On 22 October, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov reportedly received his Turkish counterpart, Sedan Onal, in Moscow for a new round of consultations on resolving the Libyan and Syrian crises.

On 12 October, Acting Head of UNSMIL, Williams, met with Tunisian President Saied to begin discussing details of the LPDF scheduled to take place in Tunisia. On 14 October, Italian Foreign Minister di Maio met with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. On 15 October, the UN released a statement asserting that the HoR and the HCS had agreed at the end of the 11-13 October talks in Cairo. On 16 October, the GNA said that the Foreign Minister, Siyala, had met with the Turkish Ambassador to Libya, Aksen. On 17 October, it was reported that Williams had been holding a series of meetings with mayors from municipalities across Libya.

On 10 October, a group of EU ambassadors met with GNA Prime Minister al-Serraj in Tripoli. The same day, UNSMIL issued a press release stating that the LPDF would be held through a series of online sessions as well as face-to-face meetings. Also on 10 October, Acting Head of UNSMIL Williams said the UN would hold direct, face-to-face talks in Geneva beginning on 19 October between delegations of the 5+5 JMC. On 6 October, the UN adopted a proposal from the UNHRC to postpone investigations into human rights violations in Libya by the UN Fact-finding Mission in Libya.

On 5 October, the UN and Germany began co-hosting a virtual meeting of the countries and IOs that took part in the Berlin Conference on Libya of January 2020. On 2 October, a draft 10-page plan prepared by the EU’s foreign policy office was unveiled. Also on 2 October, the Turkish MoD said that the UN had ‘registered’ the deal for demarcation of maritime boundaries reached between Turkey and the GNA. On 30 September, United States Defence Secretary Mark Esper travelled to Tunis.

On 27 September, a second round of UN-mediated meetings was set to occur in Bouznika, Morocco, but was delayed. On 5 October, Germany plans to host the second ‘Berlin Conference’. On top of all this, French President Macron signalled that Paris was seeking to hold their own ‘talks on Libya’. On 25 September, an Algerian newspaper reported that several African countries refused to accept the appointment of former Bulgarian politician and UN diplomat Mladenov as the new UN Special Envoy. On 23 September, EU foreign policy chief Borrell announced that the EU was lifting sanctions on head of the HoR, Saleh, and President of the GNC Abu-Sahmain.

On 17 September, details emerged of a Russian-brokered deal between the PC/GNA Deputy Prime Minister Maiteeq and Khalid Haftar, son of the head of the LNA. Also on 17 September, the UN released a statement welcoming Serraj’s announcement to resign. On 21 September, the EU imposed sanctions on 3 companies and 2 Libyan individuals.

On 14 September, the Turkish Foreign Minister announced that consultations between Turkish and Russian interagency delegations on Libya and Syria will continue at a technical level. The same day, it was reported that the UNSC was planning on approving former Bulgarian politician and UN diplomat Nickolai Evtimov Mladenov as the new head of UNSMIL. On 10 September, participants of a two-day consultation held in Montreux, Switzerland under the auspices of the HD announced a supposed agreement on a roadmap for a comprehensive solution to the Libyan conflict. On 10 September, German and Italian warships intercepted an oil tanker on its way to Libya from the UAE suspected of carrying ‘a load of jet fuel likely to be used for military purposes.’