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.
2 May – 8 May: Russia holds separate meetings with GNA and LNA senior officials
On 4 May, Russia’s MoD, Sergey Shoigu, held a video-conference talk with LNA head Khalifa Haftar. The day before, on 3 May, GNA Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Siala, held talks with Russian Minister Foreign Affairs Deputy Mikhail Bogdanov and Russia’s Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev in Moscow.
25 Apr – 1 May: Foreign support for Libyan elections while US and Libya sign MoI and LoA
On 30 April, the Libya Quartet said it supports Libya holding presidential and parliamentary elections this year. On 29 April, Egypt and France agreed that elections should be held in Libya before the end of 2018. On 27 April, the US and Libya’s GNA signed a Memorandum of Intent for airport security and a Letter of Agreement to support Libyan policing, prisons and justice sector development.
18 Apr – 24 Apr: US House Foreign Affairs Committee hold a Subcommittee hearing on the status of Libya while Senegal decided to deport two former Guantánamo prison detainees to Libya
US House Foreign Affairs Committee hold a Subcommittee hearing on the status of Libya while Senegal decided to deport two former Guantánamo prison detainees to Libya.
11 Apr – 17 Apr: Peace talks between the Awlad Suliman, Tebu and Tuareg tribes moves to Niger
On 14 April, attempts to negotiate peace between the Awlad Suliman, Tebu and Tuareg tribes, who have been clashing in and around the southern Libya city of Sebha since February of this year, have moved to Niger and are allegedly being facilitated by French diplomats after multiple attempts to reach a solution to the fighting have failed.
4 Apr – 10 Apr: UN release a report on armed groups control of prisons while UNSMIL launch first round of ‘consultative meetings’
On 10 April, the UN released a report exploring armed groups control of prisons in Libya, the subsequent torturing of detainees and how successive government in Tripoli have been inability to curtail these activities. On 5 April, UNSMIL launched its first round of ‘consultative meetings’ in Benghazi and Zuwara, as part of the UN-initiated Libya National Forum followed by meetings in Ghariyan and Brak al-Shatti on 7 April and in Abu Salim on 10 April.
28 Mar – 3 Apr: AFRICOM confirms airstrike in Libya killed high-ranking AQIM official
On 28 March, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that on 24 March it had coordinated with the Libyan Government of National Accord to conduct drone strikes targeting a house near Ubari, killing two militants that belonged to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). It disclosed that the strikes had killed Musa Abu Dawud, a high-ranking AQIM official.
21 – 27 Mar: US drone strikes target AQIM while UN Envoy concedes LPA amendments are unlikely
On 24 March, the US military undertook drone strikes targeting a house near Ubari, allegedly killing two militants that belonged to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. On 22 March, the UN Special Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame briefed to the UNSC and conceded that an amendment to the Libyan Political Agreement leading to a final unified government before elections was unlikely.
14 – 20 Mar: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in custody for questioning due to financial ties with Muammar al-Qadhafi
On 20 March, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was reportedly remanded in custody for questioning in relation to an ongoing investigation concerning the provision of financial assistance to his 2007 election campaign by Muammar al-Qadhafi.
7 – 13 Mar: Total number of US air strikes on ISIS in Libya increases while Egypt foils an infiltration at its western border with Libya
On 8 March, a spokesman for the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM), Major Karl J. Wiest, stated that an additional four airstrikes had been carried out against IS fighters in Libya over the last 14 months. On 11 March, the Egyptian army announced it had foiled another attempt to “infiltrate” its western border with Libya after reportedly destroying 5 vehicles loaded with arms and ammunition on the Libyan border.