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.
Williams meets with Turkish officials in Ankara
On 15 January, UN Special Advisor on Libya Stephanie Williams met with the Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sedat Unal, and Turkish Special Envoy, Can Dizdar, to discuss political developments in Libya, the electoral process and the way forward. In a...
LNA Battalion in Kufra orders closure of Sudanese-Libyan border due to unrest
On 13 January, the LNA’s Subul al-Salam Battalion (Ways of Peace) based in Kufra announced that it has closed all border crossings with Chad and Sudan until further notice. The closure is believed to be connected to a robbery which resulted in the killing and injury...
Sudanese Rapid Support Forces thwart smuggling of munitions at Libyan border
On 10 January, a Sudanese military official announced that Sudanese Rapid Support Forces had thwarted an attempt to smuggle ammunition across the border with Libya to Sudan. The official added that the Force had arrested two members of arms trade gangs operating on...
Williams says LPDF extends until June 2022
On 9 January, the UN Special Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, met with the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) women's bloc to discuss the issues the electoral process is facing ‘following the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) declaration of force...
France says 300 mercenaries have left eastern Libya
On 4 January, a Spokesperson from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anne-Claire Legendre, confirmed that 300 foreign mercenaries have left eastern Libya. Legendre stated that this move hails the start of a phased withdrawal of thousands of foreign forces that...
UNSMIL continues broad consultations with Libyan actors
Throughout the last week, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Special Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, continued their consultations with leading political and social leaders in Libya. Williams met with the head of the Presidential Council (PC),...
France, Germany, Italy, UK, and US release a Joint Statement on election delay
On 24 December, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the US released a Joint Statement recognising HNEC’s postponement of the ballot scheduled on 24 December. The statement clarified their position on the status of the GNU, asserting, 'In line with the...
UNSMIL expresses concern about security situation in Tripoli
On 21 December, UNSMIL issued a statement expressing concern at the unfolding security situation in Tripoli. It stated that the mobilisation of forces in Tripoli 'creates tensions and increases the risk of clashes that could spiral into conflict' and urged Libyan...
5+5 JMC discusses Action plan and unification with Williams in Sirte
On 18 December, the UN’s newly appointed Special Advisor on Libya, Stephanie Williams, met with the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) at its headquarters in Ouagadougou Hall in Sirte. During the meeting, Williams briefed the JMC on her new mandate and the JMC...