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.
Unverrified documents surface showing Russia declining LNA support in Ukraine
On 25 March, a series of unverified documents surfaced online purportedly showing the head of the LNA Khalifa Haftar offering military support to Russia for its ‘special operation’ in Ukraine and Russia’s Defence Minister declining the offer. The first document, dated...
UNSMIL convenes 6+6 Joint Committee in Tunis
On 22 March, the UN’s Special Advisor of the Secretary General (SASG) on Libya, Stephanie Williams, convened the first meeting of the 6+6 Joint Committee in Tunis which aims to build consensus on a constitutional basis to enable the holding of elections. However, the...
Norland meets with Dabaiba
On 16 March, US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland met with Dabaiba to discuss the current political crisis, efforts to prevent the outbreak of violence, and ‘the responsible distribution of Libya’s oil wealth for the benefit of all Libyan people.’ Norland reportedly...
Chechen President speaks with Dabaiba
On 13 March, Dabaiba spoke with the President of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov. Reports indicate that the conversation focussed on boosting security cooperation, including creating a Praetorian guard around Dabaiba and training Libyan military forces in Chechnya.
Ukrainian intelligence accuses Russia of transferring Libyan mercenaries to fight in Ukraine
On 12 March, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Brigadier General Kirill Budanov, claimed that Russia was sending mercenaries from Syria and Libya to fight in Ukraine. Ukrainian intelligence indicated that Russia has...
UNSMIL urges restraint amid armed group mobilisation in Tripoli
On 10 March, UNSMIL issued a statement saying that it was closely following with concern reports about the mobilization of forces and movement of large convoys of armed groups that have increased tensions in and around Tripoli. The statement stressed importance of...
P3+2 and EU issue joint statement
On 4 March, the governments of France, Germany, Italy, the US and the UK released a joint statement noting the UN Secretary-General’s statement and ‘expressing our concern at recent reports of violence, threats of violence, intimidation, and kidnappings’. The...
UN concern over HoR vote and pushes UN-led HoR-HSC mediation initiative
On 2 March, the UN released a statement attributable to the Secretary-General expressing concern that the House of Representatives’ (HoR) vote of confidence on the cabinet of Fathi Bashaagha ‘fell short of the expected standards of transparency & procedures & included...
LNA conducts military operation south of Kufra
On 27 February, the LNA’s Commander of the Moral Guidance Department, Khaled Mahjoub, reported that clashes broke out between the LNA’s Subul al-Salam Battalion (Ways of Peace) and armed groups south of Kufra during a patrol. Mahjoub reported that the LNA took control...