Libyan actors
Tracking developments of Libyan Actors in Libya’s security space including armed group activity, state security operations and political activities pertaining to Libya’s security.
Libyan Border Guard ‘massively increase’ anti-smuggling efforts on Tunisian border
On 31 July, Ali Wali, spokesman for the 19th Brigade of the Libyan Border Guard, said that efforts to prevent smuggling and ensure full control of the entire border route with Tunisia have been massively increased. A Joint Coordination Room was established to better...
Juwaili forces reopen Aziziyya roads following de-escalation talks amid unrest in region
Late on 29 July, forces affiliated with Zintani commander Osama Juwaili set up earth berms and closed roads in the al-Aziziyya area around 40km south of Tripoli, temporarily restricting movement to and from Tripoli. In response, armed groups in Tripoli aligned with...
Mangoush discusses Niger coup concerns with US State Department
On 29 July, Government of National Unity (GNU) Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush spoke by phone with Counsellor of the US State Department Derek Chollet about the situation in Niger. Both are deeply concerned that events there could destabilize the region. They said...
Arrests in Zawiyya as protesters demand removal of Dabaiba and Bathily
On 27 July, protests against Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba were held in Zawiyya. They were largely peaceful and called for the removal of Dabaiba and the GNU, the removal of UN Special Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily, and an end to...
Niger coup raises concerns of further destabilisation in southern Libya
On 26 July, soldiers in Niger (which borders Libya to the south-west) announced a coup on national TV, saying they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed the nation's borders. They also detained Niger President Mohamed Bazoum. The same...
Security Working Group meets in Benghazi
On 24 July, Bathily and the the Ambassadors of Italy, Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom met with Haftar in Benghazi to discuss the preparations for the Security Working Group meeting which took place the following day. In his opening...
5+5 JMC meeting in Paris ends without tangible results
On 17 and 18 July, France hosted talks between the Government of National Unity (GNU) Chief of Staff Muhammed al-Haddad, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) Chief of Staff Abdurrazeq al-Nadhouri, in the presence of the official members of the 5+5 Joint Military...
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...
Italian fishing boat shot at by the Libyan Coast Guard
On the morning of 18 July, the Italian fishing boat ‘Orizzonte’ was machine-gunned about 94 nm north of Misrata (i.e. outside Libyan territorial waters) by a Libyan Coast Guard vessel. However, the crew of six remained unharmed. The shots were fired from aboard a...