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.
24 – 30 Jan: UN and ICC condemn executions and call for Werfalli’s arrest
UNSMIL and the ICC have condemned the summary executions of 10 LNA prisoners by Mahmoud al-Werfalli in Benghazi on 24 January and called for the implementation of the ICC arrest warrant for Werfalli. On 25 January, UNSMIL launched an appeal for US$313 million from donors as part of its 2018 Libya Humanitarian Response Plan.
17 – 23 Jan: Italian parliament votes to increase its military presence in Libya
On 17 January, the Italian parliament voted to increase its military presence in Libya to combat illegal immigration and counter terrorism threats. Italian forces are currently positioned in Misrata to manage the military hospital established in September 2016 during the anti-ISIS operations in Sirte.
10 – 16 Jan: UN Under Secretary General visits Libya
On 10 January, UN Under Secretary General Jeffery Feltman visited Libya and held meetings with Government of National Accord institutions in Tripoli. Feltman reiterated the UN’s backing of UN Envoy Ghassan Salame’s Libya Action Plan, stating there was a “window of opportunity” to successfully end the transition with the Libyan Political Agreement.
3 – 9 Jan: Serraj and Salame meet while Germany destroys Qadhafi’s chemical weapons
On 8 January, Government of National Accord (GNA) head Fayez al-Serraj met with UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame in Tripoli to discuss the latest political developments in Libya. On 5 January, the German Foreign and Defense Ministries completed the destruction of components from Muammar al-Qadhafi’s chemicals weapons programme.
Dec 27 – 2 Jan: Salame will not engage with Saif al-Islam
On 28 December, the UN envoy Ghassan Salame said he would not enter any dialogue with Saif al-Islam Qadhafi due to the ICC warrant against him.
Growing international criticism of Haftar’s defiance towards the Libyan Political Agreement.
There has been growing international criticism of Libyan National Army general commander Khalifa Haftar following his speech on 17 December where he declared the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and its institutions expired. On 21 December, French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Haftar and had ‘frank discussions’ for an hour, after which he told press […]
13-19 Dec: UNSC and Salame Reaffirm That 17 December Is ‘Non-Date’
On 17 December, a new joint statement was issued by the regional troika, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, reaffirming their full backing to the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and the military unification process. A statement issued by the UN Security Council President on 15 December, as well as statements by the UN envoy Ghassan Salame throughout the last two weeks, maintain that the 17 December date was a ‘non-date’ and that the LPA remains the only legitimate political framework. On December 12, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with the GNA Foreign Minister Mohamed Siala in Moscow.
6 – 12 Dec: 4th round of Libyan army reunification talks take place in Cairo
On 10 December, Libyan military officers met in Cairo for the 4th round of the Libyan army unification talks. On December 4, Fayez al-Serraj and US Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin discussed the importance of continued cooperation between the U.S and Libya in countering the financing of terrorism.
29 Nov -5 Dec: Serraj Visits D.C. While Trump’s “Muslim Ban” Goes Into Effect
On 30 November, Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj met with Secretary of Defense James Mattis at the Pentagon to discuss defense relationships and regional security challenges. This included concerns about how ISIS and al-Qaeda are “taking advantage of ungoverned spaces in Libya to establish sanctuaries for plotting inspiring and directing terrorist […]