UN Facilitates Libya Talks on Crisis That Has Sunk Oil Output
The UN Support Mission in Libya said consultations between the country’s two rival governments yesterday ended with “significant understandings” on how to address a rift over the management of the central bank; Libya’s eastern administration ordered a halt on oil output in the dispute, leading the country’s daily production to decrease by around half since August 26 (Bloomberg)
U.S. Representatives Call for Deescalation
The U.S. envoy in Libya and the head of U.S. Africa Command met yesterday with Libya’s army commander and urged “deescalation in the context of current tensions” (U.S. Embassy in Libya)
Those tensions refer to the standoff over leadership of Libya’s central bank, which has resulted in dwindling output from several oilfields as authorities in the east threaten to shut them all down (Reuters)
Libya’s Eastern Government Says It Will Stop Oil Production Over Bank Dispute
The internationally backed government in western Libya seeks to replace the country’s central bank governor, who says he will not step down (Bloomberg)
The country’s rival government in the east said that it would halt oil production amid the row, though Libya’s national oil company did not immediately confirm the freeze (Reuters)
Libya’s Central Bank Suspends Operations Due to Official’s Kidnapping
The bank said it will not resume activities until its information technology director Musab Msallem is returned; Msallem was taken from his home yesterday morning by an “unidentified party,” the bank’s statement added (BBC)
Libya Delays Reopening of Tunisia Border Crossing
Libya has delayed reopening the Ras Jedir border crossing, its main border crossing with Tunisia; local media reported that armed groups were responsible for disrupting plans to reopen the border (The New Arab)
Libya, Tunisia Reopen Border Crossing
The crossing had been closed for three months after armed clashes between security forces and residents in the Libyan city of Zuwara; it is now opening for emergencies and is due to be fully reopened by June 20 (The National)
Released UN Briefing Reveals Torture of Tunisian Migrants in Libyan Facilities
A confidential UN human rights briefing seen by Reuters revealed that hundreds of Tunisian migrants transferred to Libyan detention centers in 2023 were subject to torture, extortion, abuse, and killing; UN officials have continually been denied access to these facilities, and neither Libyan nor Tunisian authorities commented on the report (Reuters)
Libyan Authorities Free at Least 107 Migrants in Raid
The migrants from various sub-Saharan African countries have been held captive in a town in southeastern Libya and were transferred to the control of migration authorities, a spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation Department in Benghazi said yesterday; in April, the UN special envoy for Libya urged authorities to ensure better treatment of migrants (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister’s Residence Attacked
Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s house was targeted with rocket-propelled grenades; no casualties were reported (Reuters)
Armed Clashes Cause Shutdown of Libya-Tunisia Border
Tunisian state television and Libyan officials reported the closure of a major border crossing known for trade and medical tourism; Libya’s interior ministry said that “outlaw groups” had attacked the border, though it gave no additional details (Reuters)
UN Envoy Warns of Disintegration if Libya Fails to Form Unified Government
Abdoulaye Bathily urged politicians to set aside “their self-interests” to move toward elections and voiced concern over increasing territorial competition between security actors (AP)
IMF Projects Positive Libyan Economic Performance
On a visit to the country, an IMF team expressed optimism about medium-term economic growth despite recent flood damage due to high gasoline prices (IMF)
Libya Deports 600 Undocumented Egyptians
Thousands of Egyptians live and work in Libya or have passed through on their journey to Europe; the UN estimated that 700,000 migrants were in Libya between May and June of this year (AFP)
Eastern Libya Leader Discussing Defense Deal with Russia
President Vladimir Putin and eastern Libya’s military commander Khalifa Haftar are reportedly nearing a deal that could grant Russia a naval base and a greater military presence in the area (Bloomberg)
UN Warns of Clashes Amid Communications Blackout in Benghazi, Libya
Authorities claim the outage is due to a broken cable, but the UN and Libyan media have reported fighting between Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) and a smaller armed faction; the LNA is intolerant of internal opponents (Reuters)
Libyan UN Envoy Calls for Unified Mechanism to Respond to Deadly Flooding
The country’s rival governments have led two separate relief efforts in the coastal city of Derna (AP)
Libya’s Coast Guard Rams Migrant Vessel
The impact threw some of the fifty migrants on board into the sea and partially sank the vessel (AP)
Libya’s Khalifa Haftar Meets with Putin in Moscow
The eastern Libyan strongman relies on military support from Russia’s Wagner Group and regularly meets with Russian officials (Al Jazeera)
Libya Arrests Eight Officials in Connection to Dam Collapse
Libya’s top prosecutor also summoned others for questioning in the investigation of potential negligence and corruption that led to the dam’s mismanagement (AP;NYT)
Hundreds of Protesters in Derna Call For Removal of Authorities
The protests comemore than a week after heavy rains and flooding destroyed the city, killing thousands of people (NYT)
Libya Disaster Relief Turns to Disease Prevention
The humanitarian crisis caused by recent flooding in Libya is worsening as survivors face medical supply shortages and contaminated drinking water, according to the International Organization of Migration (NYT)
Meanwhile, hundreds of people protested in the eastern city of Derna to demand government accountability for the disaster (Reuters)
Death Toll in Libya Flooding Rises to Over Five Thousand As Global Aid Arrives
More than 5,300 people have been reported dead and thousands more remain missing after floodwaters swept through the port city of Derna on Sunday, according to an official from the administration that runs eastern Libya (Reuters)
Dams near the city burst after heavy rains that scientists say appear to have been exacerbated by climate change (AP)
While the United States and some European and Middle Eastern countries have pledged relief, aid convoys have struggled to reach the city due to destroyed roads and Libya’s divided political status (BBC)
Storm Daniel Causes Catastrophic Flooding in Eastern Libya
Up to three thousand people have died and as many as ten thousand are missing, a government official from the country’s eastern administration said (Al Jazeera)
Libya Rejects Normalization With Israel
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said his country will not seek to normalize relations with Israel and instead voiced support for the Palestinian national movement; his comments come days after reports of a secret meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers spurred protests in Libya (Times of Israel)
Libyan Diplomat Suspended After Meeting With Israeli Counterpart
One of Libya’s two prime ministers said he suspended Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush after news of her meeting with Israel’s top diplomat prompted street demonstrations; Israel has been looking to improve its ties with Arab countries (AP)