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.
Amnesty International condemns activist kidnapping in Benghazi
On 18 July, Amnesty International highlighted that activist and professor of geography at the University of Benghazi Belkacem Eljard was kidnapped by armed men affiliated with the Internal Security Agency (ISA) from his home in Benghazi on 27 June. It called on the...
Paris hosts 5+5 JMC meeting to discuss establishment of joint military force in the South
On 17 - 18 July, France hosted in Paris a meeting of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, in the presence of senior representatives of UNSMIL and several ambassadors to Libya. The main aim is to sign an agreement to form a joint military force to secure the southern...
US civil case filed against Haftar and Prigozhin for ‘war crimes’ against Libyans
On 17 July, the Libyan-American Alliance (LAA) announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Russia’s Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar for their alleged involvement in war crimes committed against Libyan...
Greece calls for resumption of ‘Operation Sophia’ naval mission
On 16 July, newly appointed Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis called on the European Union (EU) to resume ‘Operation Sophia’, an EU-led naval mission that aimed to break up smuggling routes and halt migrants prior to their departure in the Mediterranean,...
UNSMIL, US condemn Boumtari’s detention and HSC members’ travel ban at Mitiga Airport
On 13 July, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the ‘continued abductions, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances of citizens and public figures by various security actors in Libya’, specifically citing the detention...
NGO condemns Libyan coastguard for opening fire on migrant boat
On 10 July, European rescue group SOS Mediterranee issued a statement condemning the Libyan coastguard for firing shots ‘in close proximity’ to their rescue operation, in which the crew had picked up 11 survivors of a shipwreck in international waters off the Libyan...
European Commission says Libyan coast guard ‘infiltrated by criminals’
On 6 July, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stated that there was a clear indication that the Libyan coast guard was infiltrated by criminal groups. In her statement to the European Parliament, which comes two weeks after the EU delivered new...
Tunisia deports hundreds of African migrants to Libyan border region amid international condemnation
On 5 July, Tunisia forcibly deported several hundred black Africans to the Libyan border after violent riots involving migrants in Sfax (in which one Tunisian was killed). Subsequently, several international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch...
Wagner allegedly targeted in drone strikes on Khadim base as GNU, LNA deny responsibility
On 29 June, facilities of the Wagner mercenaries at al-Khadim Air Force Base in the Kharouba area south of al-Marj were reportedly attacked by at least one combat drone. One Russian Il76 transport aircraft operated by the Wagner Group was reportedly hit and heavily...