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.
8 August – 14 August: HoR declare Italian Ambassador ‘persona non-grata’
On 9 August, the House of Representatives (HoR) Committee of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation declared Italian Ambassador Giuseppe Perrone as a ‘persona non-grata’. The decree is in response to his comments last week that were widely interpreted as dismissing Libyan elections.
1 August – 7 August: South Korea launches naval ship to Libya in “show of force”
On 2 August, South Korean redirected the naval ship “Munmu the Great” from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden to Libya in order to protect South Korean commercial vessels. This action is thought to be a “show of force” in response to the kidnapping of a Korean technician.
25 July – 31 July: Italy plans to hold international conference on Libya
On 30 July, Italy’s Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, told reporters following a White House meeting with US President Donald Trump that he would be organizing an international conference to look for ways to stabilise Libya.
18 July – 24 July: Libyan-Italian maritime operations centre in Tripoli port proposed
On 18 July, Italian embassy and security officials accompanied the head of the maritime sector branch within the Government of National Accord’s Ministry of Interior for an official visit to Tripoli port and discussed plans to establish a joint Libyan-Italian maritime operations centre in Tripoli port.
11 July – 17 July: EU’s foreign policy head visits Tripoli
On 14 July, Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy head, visited Tripoli to reestablish the EU’s diplomatic presence in Libya. In a statement, Mogherini restated the EU’s support for the UN initiative for elections and discussed ways to secure Libya’s land borders and train its coast guard.
4 July – 10 July: Italy reactivate Qadhafi era “friendship treaty” with Libya
On 7 July, Italy reactivated a Qadhafi era “friendship treaty” with Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) that will see the European country give Libya $5 billion to prevent migrants from traveling over the Mediterranean.
27 June – 3 July: Egypt calls for ‘red notice’ on Libyan ISIS members
On 24 June, Egypt’s Prosecutor-General, Nail Sadek, called for a ‘red notice’ to be issued by Interpol for the arrest of three Libyan ISIS members. On 27 June, Libyan national Ahmed Abu Khatallah was sentenced to 22 years in a US federal prison for his role in the 11 September 2012 terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi.
20 June – 26 June: AFRICOM refutes local claims of civilian casualties from airstrike targeting ISIS
On 20 June, U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM) released a statement refuting local claims of civilian casualties from drone strikes it conducted near Bani Walid on 5 June that killed four ISIS members.
13 June – 19 June: AFRICOM conducts drone strike killing AQIM member near Bani Walid
On 13 June, U.S Africa Command (AFRICOM), in cooperation with the Government of National Accord (GNA), conducted a drone strike killing an alleged member of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb approximately 50 miles southeast of Bani Walid.