Africa

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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Ghana’s Football Association dissolved

BBC reports that Ghana has dissolved its national football association after its president was filmed apparently accepting a "cash gift". Sports Minister Isaac Asiama said the association had been "dissolved…

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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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Tunisia fires officials accused of negligence over shipwreck this weekend which killed at least 66 migrants

Tunisia on Wednesday announced the sacking of officials accused of negligence over a shipwreck this weekend that killed at least 66 migrants. AFP reports that the casualties, mostly Tunisians, drowned when…

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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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al-Sisi sworn in for a second term as Egypt’s president

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been sworn in for a second term as Egypt's president with a vow to fight "those who choose violence, terrorism and extremism". Sisi took the oath…

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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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First human rights trial against former Tunisian leader Ben Ali

A Tunisian commission probing human rights violations stretching back 61 years brought its first case to court this week, with former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali and 13 other ex-officials…

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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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Earthquake in Tunisia

An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded at 1:18 local time in the centre of Tunisia. In other reports, the earthquake was said to have a magnitude of 4.6. According…

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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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Egypt to open Rafah border for Muslim holy month of Ramadan

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday opened the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to his official Twitter account.…

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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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Tunisia’s largest trade union considers preventing American ships from entering the country’s ports over US embassy move to Jerusalem

Tunisia's largest trade union is considering preventing the unloading and launching of American ships in the country's ports in response to the US decision to transfer its Israeli embassy to…

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