Libyan rescue workers recovered at least fifteen bodies believed to be victims of two rival groups of people smugglers, alongside several burned boats, on the shore of Sabratha, said a member of the Red Crescent (Reuters)
Libya’s Western-Based Government Signs Energy Deal with Turkey
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah signed a pact with Turkey to expand joint efforts to search for natural gas off the Libyan coast, prompting strong reactions from Egypt, Greece, and the EU (Bloomberg)
Mass Grave Discovered in Former Islamic State Territory
Forty-two bodies were uncovered in a mass grave in the city of Sirte after Libya’s Missing Persons Authority received a tip from an investigation dealing with captured Islamic State fighters (AP)
Renewed Fighting Erupts in Western Libya, Killing Five
Rival militias clashed in the western town of Zawiya over the weekend, killing five civilians and causing widespread panic in the town before a ceasefire was announced by the Libyan Red Crescent on Monday (AP)
UN Urges Libyan Political Rivals to Maintain Peace to Facilitate Elections
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres implored Libya’s rival political factions to preserve peace and agree to legal changes so elections can be held to establish a legitimate Libyan government. The UN chief also called on the international community for another Berlin meeting to prevent Libya’s return to conflict (Associated Press)
Libyan Armed Groups Clash in Tripoli
Armed groups loyal to Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and his rival Fathi Bashagha clashed in Tripoli as tensions have risen in recent months; no casualties were reported (Arab News)
Clashes Kill Thirteen in Tripoli, Libya
Rival political factions exchanged gunfire in Tripoli, Libya killing thirteen people and injuring twenty-seven in one of the worst outbreaks of violence since the 2020 ceasefire (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister Makes Alliance with Ex-Enemy to Cement Ceasefire
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh has made an unlikely alliance with his former enemy, warlord Khalifa Haftar, to maintain the country’s 2020 ceasefire and end an oil blockade by Haftar’s supporters (Guardian)
Libya Lifts Ban on Oil Production and Export, Appoints New Minister
The freshly appointed National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Farhat bin Qadar declared the lifting of force majeure, ending all closures of Libyan oil fields and ports (Bloomberg)
Libya’s Government of National Unity Moves to Replace Oil Chairman
Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU) has moved to replace the National Oil Corp (NOC) chairman as access to state oil revenue has become increasingly politicized between rival Libyan factions (Reuters)
Protestors Storm Parliament Building in Libya
Protestors stormed a Libyan Parliament building in Tobruk, burning part of the site in protest of power cuts and political deadlock; the UN Special Envoy condemned the violence but highlighted the urgency of achieving a political resolution (BBC)
Meanwhile, Libya’s Presidential Council announced a plan to end deadlock and hold elections as soon as possible, without elaborating upon the plan’s details (Barrons)
Libya Suspends Oil Exports from Key Port Due to Political Crisis
Libya’s state oil company implemented force majeure export restrictions on firms at Ras Lanuf, a key port; protests over two politicians with competing prime minister claims have taken place at energy facilities, shutting down several oil fields and ports (Bloomberg)
United Nations to Broker New Talks on Libyan Elections Framework
The United Nations has confirmed that new talks between two rival Libyan factions will commence on June 28 in Geneva, Switzerland (Bloomberg).
Rival Libyan Factions Fail to Reach Agreement at UN-mediated Talks
Rival Libyan factions concluded the third and final round of UN-mediated talks in Egypt without reaching an agreement on an amended constitutional framework for elections (Al Jazeera)
Fighting Between Rival Militias Breaks Out in Libyan Capital
Armed groups backing rival prime ministers exchanged gunfire in the Libyan capital of Tripoli while explosions rocked the city (Al Jazeera)
Meanwhile, Libyan officials returned to Cairo to participate in talks on a constitutional framework for future elections (Washington Post)
UN Says Russian Mercenaries in Libya Laid Mines in Civilian Areas
According to a report that has yet to be released to the public, UN investigators found that Russian mercenaries laid mines in civilian areas in Libya without marking their location or any attempts to remove the devices (Guardian)
Rival Libyan Prime Minister Plans to Set Up Government in Central City
Fathi Bashagha, the prime minister elected by parliament, said he plans to establish his government in the central city of Sirte (Bloomberg)
Libya’s Parliament-Appointed Prime Minister Enters Tripoli, Sparking Violence
Fathi Bashagha, the parliament-appointed Libyan prime minister, entered Tripoli in an attempt to take control of the government; Bashagha’s efforts were thwarted when fighting broke out in the Libyan capital, leading Bashagha to withdraw from the city (Reuters)
UN-Brokered Talks on Libyan Elections Resume
Rival lawmakers from Libya’s parliament, based in the east, and the High Council of State, based in the west, met in Cairo to attend UN-brokered talks on Libyan elections (Washington Post)
Armed Clashes Damage Storage Tanks at Key Libyan Oil Port
According to Libya’s state-owned oil company, armed clashes damaged storage tanks at the western port of Zawiya, worsening the current political crisis’ impact on the energy sector (Bloomberg)
Talks Between Rival Libyan Governments End Without Agreement
Weeklong talks between representatives of rival Libyan governments ended in Egypt without an agreement on constitutional arrangements for elections (Associated Press)
Separately, Libya’s oil production fell from 1.3 million to 800,000 barrels — the lowest level in months (Bloomberg)
Protests Close Libyan Oil Field
Political protests forced Libya’s National Oil Corporation to suspend operations at a small oil field that produces some seventy-five thousand barrels per day (The National)
Rival Libyan Governments Begin Talks in Egypt
Representatives of Libya’s two rival governments began UN-backed talks in Egypt in an effort to reach an agreement on holding national elections (Reuters)
Libyan Military Commanders Suspend Participation in UN-Backed Council
Military commanders in eastern Libya suspended their participation in a UN-backed joint military council; they accused the Tripoli government of failing to hand over power and called for the road west to be closed (Reuters)
New Libyan Prime Minister Plans to Take Control of Tripoli Government Peacefully
Libya’s newly appointed Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha said he expects to take control of the government in Tripoli peacefully in the coming days, despite interim-Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah’s continued refusal to cede power (Reuters)