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.
UNSMIL, US call for investigation into death of activist in Rajma detention
On 21 April, UNSMIL said it was deeply saddened by the death of activist Siraj Dughman while in custody at Rajma military camp. The mission urged authorities ‘to conduct a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death’ and...
Russian ambassador tours eastern Libya
On 17 April, Russian Ambassador to Libya Aydar Aganin met with the Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army's (LNA) Security Units Khaled Haftar, one of Khalifa Haftar’s sons, at Rajma. On 18 April, Aganin met with the House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Aqeela...
Russia continues to deliver military shipments to Tubruq
Reports indicate that Russia continues to deliver military shipments to Tubruq. Two Russian landing vessels (the Ivan Gren and the Alexandr Otrakovsky) have delivered two more loads of military equipment and weapons from Tartus port in Syria to Tubruq port over the...
US ‘closely monitoring’ Russian activities in Africa
In remarks to the UNSC on 16 April, US Ambassador Robert Wood said that, ‘We are closely monitoring the situation in Niger, Chad, Sudan, and Mali – including the movement of foreign fighters and rampant arms trafficking – and its destabilizing implications for Libya.’...
Shipment of Russian military equipment arrives at Tubruq port
On 14 April, a video was widely circulated on social media showing military vehicles, weapons and military equipment being unloaded from a vessel in Tubruq port. The vessel was reportedly a Russian Ivan Gren-class landing ship which sailed from Tartus in Syria,...
NGOs call on Maltese government to halt migrant pushbacks to Libya
On 10 April, twenty-two Maltese organisations and academics called on the Malta government to stop pushing back people at sea to Libya, following allegations that 83 migrants on a boat adrift in Maltese waters had been ‘forcibly intercepted’ by the Libyan Coastguard...
US ‘corrects’ reports on training of ‘armed groups’ in Libya
On 9 April, Africa Intelligence, Nova Agency and several other news sites reported that the American private military company Amentum had begun training the 444 Brigade (commanded by Mahmoud Hamza), the 111th (Misrata) ‘Halbous’ Brigade (the former brigade of Libyan...
US Defense Attaché delegation visits several security posts
A US Defense Attaché delegation travelled to Misrata and al-Khoms, where they ‘made productive visits’ to the Central Military Zone, Al Khoms naval base, and various important military and counterterrorism forces, stressing that the US ‘will continue to support...
Ex-Irish forces accused of training Haftar forces despite arms embargo
On 3 April, the Irish Times reported that former members of the elite Army Ranger Wing within the Irish Defence Forces have been training troops under the command of Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar in contravention of the ongoing UN arms and...