Libya

INSIGHT: Italy vs France – How oil interests and territorial control are fuelling the migration disputes and stand offs

Il Fatto Quotidiano reports that it is not all as it seems in the very tough clash between Italy and France, between Matteo Salvini and Emmanuel Macron on immigration; a real diplomatic…

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Libyan coastguard reported to have saved nearly 1,000 migrants

Euronews: Nearly a thousand migrants were rescued on Sunday by the Libyan coastguard and ten bodies recovered from the sea. Mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, the 948 migrants had taken to sea…

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Italy is ready to provide Libya with support to guarantee security in the Mediterranean – Salvini

Italy is ready to provide Libya with "technical and economic support to guarantee security in the Mediterranean together and to strengthen investigative cooperation and security cooperation". This was stated by Matteo Salvini,…

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Salvini visiting Libya

The Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is on his way to Libya. Salvini announced this on his twitter account by posting a series of photos. The visit takes place against…

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25 bodies retrieved from the shores of western Libya

Libya Observer: The Libyan Red Crescent has recovered about 25 bodies of illegal immigrants from the shores of Maya town, the Tripoli Naval Base at Abu Sitta and Khoms city. The…

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Airstrike on terrorist confirmed by US Africa Command in Libya

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced Thursday that it had carried out an airstrike 50 miles southeast of Bani Walid last Wednesday killing one terrorist. In its press release,…

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EU Parliamentary President Antonio Tajani to visit Libya

The Libya Observer: The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, declared his intention to visit Libya and Niger in the coming period to discuss the illegal immigration file. Tajani said…

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New migrant issue in the Mediterranean Sea

ANSA: A new situation is developing in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to the roles of NGOs operating rescue missions in the region. A ship belonging to the German NGO Lifeline…

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East Libyan forces took full control of Ras Lanuf oil terminal

Reuters : East Libyan forces took full control of Ras Lanuf oil terminal and the surrounding area on Thursday as they rapidly advanced against rivals who seized the port a week…

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250 left dead after Libyan air-war

The Washington Post: At least 230 civilians have died in Libya in the chaotic, multiparty air war that has followed the ouster of dictator Moammar Gaddafi in 2011, a report has…

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Five migrants dead off the coast of Libya

Middle East Eye: Libya’s navy recovered the bodies of five migrants while they rescued more than 100 after their vessel sank near the country’s coast, the navy told AFP on Monday.…

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‘Major offensive’ launched in Libya’s oil crescent

The National : The Libyan National Army on Sunday announced a "major offensive" to drive rival groups from the country's north-eastern oil crescent, where militias have captured two vital export…

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U.S. forces in coordination with the Libyan government carry airstrike against al Qaeda affiliates in Libya

Reuters: U.S. forces working in coordination with the Libyan government carried out an air strike against an al Qaeda affiliate group southeast of Bani Walid this week, killing one fighter, U.S.…

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Libya’s NOC declares force majeure on Ras Lanuf and Sidra oil terminals

Libya Observer The National Oil Corporation in Libya (NOC) has declared a force majeure on Ras Lanuf and Sidra and evacuated its staffers from the two oil terminals for fear for…

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Fighting intensifies as a Haftar closes in on besieged Derna

Middle East Eye: Two suicide bombers on Tuesday hit forces loyal to Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is leading an assault on the eastern city of Derna, a spokesman for his…

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152 people rescued by Libyan coastguards

Libya Observer: The Libyan coastguards rescued Saturday 152 illegal immigrants including 19 women and three children on two different boats. The Libyan Navy Forces spokesman Ayoub Qassim said the illegal…

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Italy closes its ports to migrants, insists Malta should take them despite being rescued closer to Lampedusa

The Malta Independent: The Italian government is insisting that Malta takes in 629 migrants that were rescued near Libya on Sunday morning, saying that its ports were closed. The migrants…

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Self-Styled Libyan National Army seizes most of Derna

The self-styled Libyan National Army says its forces have seized most of the western coastal city of Derna from extremist groups who have controlled it for years. Spokesperson Ahmed al-Mesmari…

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UN Security Council imposes sanctions on six leaders of human trafficking in Libya

The UN Security Council has imposed sanctions on six leaders of human trafficking networks operating in Libya - the first time traffickers have been put on an international sanctions list.…

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Libyan Navy Force spokesman: Dubious NGOs’ vessels in the middle of the Mediterranean should leave as they are profiting off immigrants’ suffering.

The spokesman of the Libyan Navy Force, Ayoub Qassim, called on the dubious NGOs' vessels at the middle of the Mediterranean to leave, saying they are profiting off immigrants' suffering.…

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UN Security Council backs Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Libya

The U.N. Security Council has given its endorsement to the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya in December, which could be a significant step in bringing stability to…

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Agreement on an economic reform plan for Libya reached

An economic reform plan for Libya was agreed at the Libya Economic Dialogue meeting in Tunis yesterday. The Libyan Presidential Council (PC) and the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) have agreed…

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UN Report: 101 civilian casualties in Libya during May

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) documented 101 civilian casualties –47 deaths and 54 injuries – during the conduct of hostilities, including car and suicide bombings, across Libya…

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Libya: Misrata and Tawergha sign historic peace treaty

The Libya Observer, and Libya Herald reports that Misrata and Tawergha signed a historic peace treaty to end dispute between the two cities and allow Tawergha IDPs to return “immediately” to…

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Libya signs agreement to secure joint borders with its southern neighbours

Libya’s Foreign Ministry announced that Libya had signed an agreement with its southern neighboring countries Niger, Chad and Sudan to secure the joint borders against human trafficking and weapons smuggling.…

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Sheikh Al-Sadiq warns that silence and failure to support the weak in Derna is foreboding a bleak future

"What is happening in Derna is not a war on terrorism, but a war on all Libyans in order to subdue them" Addressing the Libyans during his weekly program on…

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US confirms its commitment to a stable, democratic and united Libya

In a statement released after a meeting between the US Chargé d’Affaires, Stephanie Williams and AFRICOM Commander General Tom Waldhauser and Presidency Council head Faiez Serraj, in Tripoli, the US…

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UN Secretary General welcomes Paris declaration on Libya

The spokesman of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, issued a statement expressing the Secretary-General António Guterres’ welcome to political declaration that was announced on Tuesday in the…

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The humanitarian situation in Derna is worsening – UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated that the escalation of fighting in Derna - eastern Libya - has reached unprecedented levels due to…

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Libya: Ceasefire in Derna a must – Al-Mishri

The Head of the High Council of State (HCS) Khalid Al-Mishri, said a ceasefire must take effect in Derna, in eastern Libya, pointing out to the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA)…

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Libyan political rivals agree to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on December 10

Rival Libyan factions agreed on Tuesday on a declaration that would create a political framework to pave the way for U.N.-backed elections presidential and parliamentary elections on December 10, in…

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Tripoli’s Al-Ittihad footballers assaulted by Benghazi Saiqa Force in Libya Football League match

The Libya Observer reports that the players and members of Tripoli-based Al-Ittihad took a beating by Benina stadium security personnel and Saiqa Force fighters in Benghazi on Sunday while they were…

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Paris international conference on Libya scheduled for today

On Tuesday the French President Emmanuel Macron will host the four main rivals of Libya including Al-Mishri, the Head of the Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sirraj, the Speaker of the House of Representatives…

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Libya exports first natural gas shipment to Italy after four years

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) shipped on Wednesday its first quantity of propane gas from the Zueitina port to Italy, estimated at approximately 61,761 barrels. The NOC said in…

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Three Libyans arrested in Zuwara, accused of trafficking migrants, 20 injured in gun fire from trafficker

Zuwara Security Directorate said Tuesday it had foiled an illegal immigration attempt by over 200 illegal immigrants from different African countries, who were arrested in a farm west of the…

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Russia blocks UN sanctions on six Libyan people accused of human trufficking

The Libya Observer reports that Russia has blocked a proposal to impose sanctions on six Libyan figures accused of human trafficking and managing smuggling networks for migrants, giving as reason the…

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Libyan Central Bank mulling reduction of taxes on dollar exchanges to curb smuggling

The Libya Observer reports that the Central Bank of Libya (CBL) is considering to reduce 200% taxes on selling US dollars at the commercial banks to Libyans in coordination with the…

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Libya’s Elderly Council demands UN to intervene to end air strikes on Derna

The Council of Elders of Tripoli organized a protest Sunday outside the UN headquarters in Janzour district in Tripoli to express solidarity with the residents of Derna and demanded an…

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Libya: Flights to and out of Misrata airport to resume on Monday

Flights to and out of Misrata Airport are due to resume on Monday, May 21. All air traffic in the airport was closed for five consecutive days and all flights were…

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France proposes 2018 elections plan to end Libya political stalemate

France has proposed an initiative to end Libya’s political impasse by holding parliamentary and presidential elections by the end of 2018 as per a United National timeline. “Political solution plus a…

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Land and air military operations in Derna, Libya

Forces loyal to Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar have launched fresh land and air operations against besieged Derna, one of the last eastern cities still outside of his control whose…

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ISIS claims responsibility for Libyan election commission suicide bombing which killed 12

At least 12 people were killed and seven wounded as two suicide bombers have stormed Libya’s electoral commission in Tripoli. The attack claimed by Islamic State jihadists. The bloodshed comes…

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Libya: General Khalifa Haftar returns to Benghazi

Khalifa Haftar, a veteran general and the most powerful figure in eastern Libya, has returned to the eastern city of Benghazi following an extended absence, including reported treatment in a hospital…

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10 dead, over 17 operations as migrant journeys restart from North Africa

With the good weather and the calm sea, the departures of refugees from North Africa to Italy have resumed. Unfortunately, so did the tragedies and the need for rescue operations.…

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Will the elections in Libya this year, lead to peace and stability?

Libya is gearing up for an election which should be held by the year’s end. Together with the cooperation of various member states, the United Nations is committed to helping…

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