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.
UNSMIL, US condemn Boumtari’s detention and HSC members’ travel ban at Mitiga Airport
On 13 July, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said it was ‘deeply disturbed’ by the ‘continued abductions, arbitrary arrests, and disappearances of citizens and public figures by various security actors in Libya’, specifically citing the detention...
ISA detain Boumtari at Mitiga Airport and ban HSC members from travel
On 11 July, the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Internal Security Agency (ISA) detained former Finance Minister and candidate to be the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) governor Faraj Boumtari on his arrival at Mitiga airport and took him to an undisclosed location....
Haftar appoints his son Khaled as Chief of Staff of LNA’s ‘Security Units’
On 11 July, it was announced that Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar has decided to establish a ‘Chief of Staff of the Security Units’, directly subordinate to the LNA General Command. He assigned his son Khalid Haftar to assume this position. The...
NGO condemns Libyan coastguard for opening fire on migrant boat
On 10 July, European rescue group SOS Mediterranee issued a statement condemning the Libyan coastguard for firing shots ‘in close proximity’ to their rescue operation, in which the crew had picked up 11 survivors of a shipwreck in international waters off the Libyan...
Tripoli court jails three people for human trafficking in Libya’s first ruling of its kind
On 7 July, the office of the Attorney General announced that the Criminal Court of Tripoli has sentenced three people to harsh prison terms on charges of human trafficking, in the first ruling of its kind in Libya. According to the statement, one of the defendants was...
European Commission says Libyan coast guard ‘infiltrated by criminals’
On 6 July, European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson stated that there was a clear indication that the Libyan coast guard was infiltrated by criminal groups. In her statement to the European Parliament, which comes two weeks after the EU delivered new...
Tunisia deports hundreds of African migrants to Libyan border region amid international condemnation
On 5 July, Tunisia forcibly deported several hundred black Africans to the Libyan border after violent riots involving migrants in Sfax (in which one Tunisian was killed). Subsequently, several international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch...
Dabaiba forms new operations room as he shifts to ‘law and order’ focus in western coastal region
On 5 July, Dabaiba ordered the formation of a Coast Road Operations Room under Western Coast Military District Commander Salaheddin al-Namroush. Among others, the 111th Brigade and the 444th Brigade will participate. The units in the west coast region will also be...
Prominent Zawiyya militia leaders arrested in Ras Ajdir
On 4 July, an armed group leader from Zawiyya, Abdurraouf al-Kabu (aka al-Zaza), was arrested in Ras Ajdir, after returning from Tunisia, based on a warrant issued by the Attorney General al-Sadiq al-Sour. A member of al-Kabu’s group, Riyad Belhaj, was also arrested....