Tag Archives: Benghazi

UN Libya envoy expresses optimism

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The United Nations’ acting envoy to Libya said she was “quite optimistic” that ongoing talks between the warring sides would lead to a lasting ceasefire, after they agreed to reopen land and air routes across front lines.

Speaking midway through marathon talks, Stephanie Williams said the sides had also agreed to maintain “the current state of calm on the front lines and avoid any military escalation”.

“After two days of the first face-to-face direct talks between the two Libyan delegations to the 5+5 Joint Military Commission, which have been marked by a great degree of patriotism and professionalism and insistence on maintaining Libya’s unity and defending the country’s sovereignty, I am pleased to report that the two sides have reached agreement on several important issues which directly impact the lives and welfare of the Libyan people, namely” the statement reads.

“That is why I continue to be very optimistic that the parties here are going to reach a more lasting and permanent ceasefire,” she told a news conference at the U.N. in Geneva.

The first flights between Tripoli Airport and the main eastern city Benghazi would resume this week, and the sides had agreed to make progress on an exchange of detainees, Williams has underlined.

This year, the conflict has aggravated due to support of foreign powers. The Tripoli Government of National Accord administration (GNA), with backing from Turkey, halted a 14-month assault by Haftar’s Libyan National Army to take control over the capital with the backing of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Foreign countries involved in the conflict “need to take their hands off of Libya”, Williams warned. Both parties have previously agreed that after a lasting ceasefire agreement is reached, all foreign forces and mercenaries must withdraw within three months, under U.N. supervision, the envoy has underlined.

Libyan oil output resumed in August after an eight-month blockade by the LNA, but the state producer, the National Oil Corporation (NOC), has underlined that the risks are imposed by a force that guards oil sites. Williams said the sides had agreed to delegate commanders from both east and west to work with the NOC on a proposal to restructure the guards to ensure oil flow.

An announcement by GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj that he intends to step down by the end of this month “should help end the long period of transition” and move towards a democratically elected government, she said.

This week’s meeting between GNA-Tripoli and LNA-Benghazi military negotiators in Geneva will be followed by a political dialogue in Tunis from November 9, Williams informed.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. At present the East Libyan authoritity – the Tobruk parliament backed by the Libyan National Army, led by Marshall Khaftar – does not recognise the status of Tripoli administration of Al-Sarraj. They repeatedly underlined in various statesments that the Shkirat Agreement (December 17,2015, Morocco), which has given a mandate for one year to the reconciliation goverment in Tripoli, has been expired a long time ago. They reiterated, that the result of this failure to realised the mandate within one year led to the «unconstitutional» status of the Tripoli government, while the status of the Tobruk parliament has been recognised the UN Security Council as the Libya sole legislator.

Libya: abduction of Mrs.Shiham Sergewa

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“Today marks one year since the abduction of Mrs. Siham Sergewa, an elected member of the House of Representatives from Benghazi and one of the prominent female voices in Libya. Her fate remains unknown, increasing the concerns about her safety and well-being’ reads the text of the statement by the spokesperson of the European External Action Service on the anniversary of the abduction of member of parliament Siham Sergewa.

“Since the beginning, the European Union has been calling for the immediate release of Mrs. Sergiwa and requesting those who hold responsibilities to investigate her abduction and ensure accountability. These calls have remained unheeded and we are yet to hear that an investigation is ongoing.

“The abduction of Mrs. Sergewa is an unacceptable attack as well as an attempt to intimidate other women, journalists and human rights activists participating in the country’s political life.

“We will continue to follow closely the cases of enforced disappearances and other systematic attacks directed against the civilian population in Libya.

Haftar announces ceasefire

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The army of Libyan Marshall Khalifa Haftar announced a ceasefire from midnight January 12 (2200 GMT) following calls from Moscow and Ankara for a truce.

They warned, however, in a short statement that the “response will be severe in the event of any violation of the truce by the opposing camp”, a reference to the UN-recognised government in Libya, the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Haftar’s forces have been battling to take the capital from the GNA since April.

UN staff killed in explosion

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“The U.N. does not intend to evacuate from Libya,” the assistant secretary-general for peace operations, Bintou Keita, told the UN Security Council, which condemned the recent attack in Benghazi, Libya.

A car bomb explosion in Benghazi killed three U.N. staff members and two other mission members on, the United Nations said.The attack came as the United Nations was negotiating a truce in the capital Tripoli, where the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) force launched an military operation in April.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, a spokesman said in a statement. 

The United Nations gave no further details, indicating some of its casualties had been members working in Benghazi, the. LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari told press two of those killed were guards with the U.N. Libya mission, and 10 people had been wounded, including young children.

The explosion happened in front of a crowded shopping mall and bank. One burned-out U.N. car could be seen in the street.

Around the time of the blast, LNA commander Khalifa Haftar announced a halt to military operations for 48 hours during the Muslim Eid al-Adha celebrations, which started on July 10.

Before the weekend, the government in Tripoli confirmed that they had already accepted a U.N. proposal for a ceasefire during the holiday.

Haftar returned to Benghazi

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Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar return to his headquarters in Ar Rajma, after completing the treatment he received at Paris hospital, according to different sources.

The arrival at Benghazi ended the flow of speculations about Haftar’s declining health and problems of succession of power, at least on short term. Surrounded by his generals, Commander appeared on TV energetic and decisive, while delivering his speech to nation shortly after arrival to Benghazi.  However the incident with an abrupt departure for Paris hospital, due to health crisis left unanswered questions of his capabilities to operate as a statesman. The flow of rumors and speculations in aftermath Haftar’s health crisis also indicated the fragility of the political situation in East Libya (Cyrenaica), dependent on physical condition of a single person.

EU expects Libyans to search for compromise

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A double attack struck Benghazi deliberately targeting the civilian population and healthcare personnel. The European Union extends its sympathy to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.

 

Such attacks have not only caused many losses but further threaten, in an already fragile environment, the ongoing work to restore security, stability and rule of law in Libya.

All Libyans deserve to live in peace and security. The European Union reiterates its engagement and support to the inclusive mediation process led by UN Special Representative Ghassan Salamé. As was underlined by the EU Foreign Ministers on 22 January, the European Union continues to work with the UN Special Representative to bring a lasting solution to the crisis, guided by the roadmap he presented, including in the framework of the Libya Quartet together with the African Union and the League of Arab States. The European Union expects all legitimate Libyan actors to rally together towards this goal, showing willingness to compromise and by putting the interests of the Libyan people first.

Libya pipeline blast

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Armed men exploded a pipeline pumping crude oil to Es Sider port, cutting Libya’s output by up to 100,000 barrels per day (bpd), military and industry sources claimed.

The state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) said in statement output had been reduced by 70,000-100,000 bpd. The cause of the blast was unclear, it added.

The attackers arrived at the site near Marada in two cars and planted explosives on the pipeline, a military source said.

Pictures purportedly showing a huge cloud from the blast in central eastern Libya circulated on social media.

The damage was still being assessed, one oil source said. Oil prices rose on the report.

Islamic State fighters had a presence in the area until government forces expelled them from their main stronghold in Sirte a year ago.

The operator of the pipeline is Waha, a subsidiary of the NOC and a joint venture with Hess Corp, Marathon Oil Corp and ConocoPhillips.

Benghazi reconstruction conference in March

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Authorities in eastern Libya have announced a conference in March to enforce support to rebuild the country’s second-largest city Benghazi heavily damaged during three years of fighting between Marshal Khalifa Haftar troops and Islamists.

The announcement signals a desire to demonstrate a return to normality in the port, where top military commander Khalifa Haftar declared the end of a campaign to oust Islamist fighters in July.

Clashes have sporadically continued in some isolated areas, while life has returned in the rest of the city, though some districts were almost completely destroyed by shelling and air strikes.

A forum titled “International Conference and Exhibition for rebuilding Benghazi city” will be held from March 19-21, the organizers said in an invitation posted online, adding that a six-day exhibition would be held the same month.

Eastern Libya to launch its coins

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Authorities in eastern Libya will circulate their own coins to ease shortages of money, a central bank official said. Another sign of dichotomy in the country that has two rival governments in east and west:  following ancient Cyrenaica and Tripolitania division.

Reportedly the new coins, made in Russia, will join Russian-made paper currency that has already been issued in the eastern half of the country, which is outside the control of the United Nations backing government based in Tripoli in the west.

Libya, once upon a time one of the richest countries in Africa, has faced a sharp decline in living standards since a 2011 NATO supported revolt, ending in assassination of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

The two rival governments and an array of armed groups are competing for control.

While the UN-backed government in Tripoli has struggled to control territory and make an impact, the east of the country has a separate cabinet with a prime minister, Tobruk parliament,  and a local branch of the central bank.

The new coins worth one Libyan dinar – about 75 US cents at the official rate but less than 12 cents on the black market – would be valid from November 2, replacing banknotes that are mostly worn out, said Ramzi al-Agha, head of the liquidity committee at the eastern central bank branch.

The coins are copper coloured, weigh slightly more than a two-euro coin or a new British pound and feature a picture of a plant native to eastern Libya’s Green Mountains, with the words “Central Bank of Libya”.

 

Haftar ascending power in Libya

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Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar (74) declared his troops had taken full control of Libya’s strategic city of Benghazi from jihad armed groups after a three-year intense military campaign.

“Your army reports you about the liberation of Benghazi from terrorism, about the complete liberation and victory of dignity” – said Haftar in his  TV address to the nation.

The battle for Benghazi between Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and jihad fighters taking over Libya after the assassination of the Colonel Gaddafi, has been at heart of the ongoing conflict in the torn apart African state.

The liberation of Benghazi is a definite step forward towards security and stability in Libya, so much desired by the population, suffering from chaos followed after the regime change attempt by the West. The violent end of Gaddafi provoked a rapid dismantling of existing state structures, however none of the emerging political figures claiming leadership could unite the 250 tribes, leaving Libyan state fractured in three major territories: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan, invaded by the terrorists from African and Middle East, including Boko Haram and Islmaic State.

A decisive victory of Haftar’s army in Cyrenaica, is also a reinforcement of the the Tobruk parliament, opposing a Western-backed prime-minister of the Government of National Accord – Fayez Al-Sarraj, attempting to stay at power in Tripoli, where up to date the security concerns does not allow the embassies, and international community, supporting him, to return to work.

However, who is controlling Benghazi, controls Libya, – according to an Arab saying: the oil fields, ports, and military bases – Marshall Haftar paves his way to power by military triumphs, but politically stays an enigma, engaging with Russians and Americans in different periods of his life.

A student of a military academy in the USSR, later Haftar lived 20 years in the USA, and reportedly co-operated with the CIA, after they helped him to escape the captivity in Tchad. Nowadays the Marshall is more associated with Kremlin, visiting Moscow twice last year. In January 2017 Haftar had talks on ‘fighting terrorsim’ on the board of the Russian aircraft  carrier ‘Admiral Kuznetzov’, while the vessel passed by Libyan coasts. While the Pentagon is concerned by the contacts of Haftar with Kremlin, Russian experts often underline that Marshall had extensively worked with the CIA. Fluent both in Russian, and English Haftar does not need an interpreter, while expressing his views to superpowers.