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.
French court sentences Sarkozy to 5 years in prison over Qadhafi campaign financing
On 25 September, the Paris Criminal Court sentenced former French President Nicolas Sarkozy to five years in jail, over an accusation of illegal funding from the former Libyan regime of Muammar Qadhafi for Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign.
Spain unloads vessels suspected of carrying military equipment to Benghazi
On 20 September, Spanish media report that Customs at Algerciras port in Spain unloaded up to 10 vessels that were being transported by the ship Lila Mumbai, which was detained in the waters of Ceuta at the end of August due to suspicions that it was carrying material...
GNU-allied militia reportedly smuggling people in the Mediterranean
On 18 September, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica published video footage and photos appearing to categorically show (reportedly for the first time) a militia allied with the Government of National Unity (GNU) participating in people smuggling in the Mediterranean...
Haftar officially visits Saudi Arabia for senior-level meetings focused on Sudan
On 18 September, Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar arrived for an official visit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. At the forefront of Haftar's discussions with senior Saudi officials were security and political developments in Libya, the role...
EU continues efforts to coordinate with the Libyan authorities on migration
On 17 September, the EU Ambassador to Libya Nicola Orlando held a meeting with Mohammed Marhani, in his capacity as technical head of the Supreme Committee for Migration, together with representatives of the Ministries of Interior, Defense, and Foreign Affairs, ahead...
Over 17k migrants intercepted and returned to Libya this year, says IOM
On 16 September, the IOM said that 17,402 migrants were intercepted and returned to Libya thus far in 2025, with 456 deaths and 420 people missing. 1,161 people were intercepted and brought back from 7 to 13 September 2025 alone. According to Frontex data, irregular...
At least 50 people killed in shipwreck off Libya’s coast
Many refugees and migrants have been killed or are missing following several shipwrecks off Libya over the last week. On 15 September, a vessel carrying refugees heading towards Greece caught fire off the coast of Tubruq and capsised. The following day, the...
Italy and Turkey sign deal to curb irregular migration from Libya
On 11 September, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, in Rome. They signed a cooperation agreement to curb irregular migration from Libya - implementation is due to start in just two weeks. Tajani noted that this...
Italian delegation visits Benghazi and signs MoUs
On 11 September, Belqasim Haftar, Director General of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund (LDRF), received the head of the Italian Intelligence Service, Giovanni Caravelli, who led a high-level official delegation from the Italian authorities. The...