International actors
Tracking developments of international actors in Libya’s security space including military activity, the presence of foreign operatives and diplomacy pertaining to Libya’s security.
24 July – 30 July: UN Envoy proposes a “triple action” to end Libya conflict
On 29 July, in a lengthy address to the UNSC, the UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame proposed a three-part immediate action to end the current conflict. On 28 July, Salame met with the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar, at his headquarters in Rajma, in eastern Libya.
17 July – 23 July: UNSMIL reopen bids for audit of competing CBL branches
On 22 July, UNSMIL announced the reopening of bids for the selection of an international audit firm to audit the financial accounts of the competing Central Bank of Libya CBL branches.
10 July – 16 July: US made missiles discovered amongst LNA forces found to belong to France
On 16 July, the Governments of Egypt, France, Italy, UAE, UK, and the US issued a statement calling for an immediate de-escalation and halt to the current fighting. On 11 July, the UN Deputy Envoy to Libya, met with the senior leadership of the eastern-based CBL. On 8 July, the Javelin anti-tank missiles discovered amidst LNA forces in Ghariyan were confirmed to belong to France.
3 July – 9 July: Serraj visits Erdogan to secure military and financial support
On 7 July, the UN’s Deputy Envoy to Libya, Stephanie Williams, met with members of the eastern-based HoR as part of a 3-day tour of eastern Libya. On 5 July, GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul. On 5 July, UNSC issued a statement condemning the attack on 2 July on a migrant detention centre in Tajoura. On 3 July, details emerged of the GNA Attorney General arresting two Russian men accused of attempting to influence future Libyan elections.
26 June – 2 July: Turkey threatens LNA as “legitimate target” following the arrest of six Turkish nationals
On 28 June, the LNA banned all commercial flights from Libya to Turkey. On 29 June, the Turkish Foreign Ministry demanded the release of six Turkish citizens by the LNA “otherwise the elements of Haftar will become a legitimate target.” On 29 June, the US State and Defence Departments opened an investigation to look into how American-made weapons had found their way to Libya.
19 June – 25 June: Turkish President confirms military cooperation agreement with Libya
On 20 June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirms Turkey is providing GNA with military equipment. On 22 June, UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame met with Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi.
12 June – 18 June: Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia call for an end to the fighting in Tripoli
On 12 June, foreign ministers from Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia held a meeting where they called for all belligerents involved in the fighting in Tripoli to stop and return to a political solution. On 13 June, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi met eastern-based parallel House of Representative Speaker Aguila Saleh in Egypt.
5 – 11 June: US House of Representatives members call on White House to clarify its position on Libya
On 7 June, a bipartisan group of eight members of the US House of Representatives sent an open letter to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking the White House to clarify its Libya position. On 10 June, the UNSC unanimously extended authorisation for vessels suspected of carrying arms to Libya to be intercepted.
29 May – 4 June: US embassy Charge d’Affaires “deeply concerned” about the shelling of the NOC clinic
On 31 May, the Tripoli-based US embassy Charge d’Affaires issued a statement, saying the US is “deeply concerned” about the shelling of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) clinic in Tripoli. On 3 June, NOC chairman, Mustafa Sanallah met with various senior European Union (EU) diplomats in Tripoli.