Weekly Highlights
- Libya’s LNA says blockade on oil will continue
- Egypt carries out military drill near Libya border
- African Development Bank grants $0.5 million emergency relief assistance to Libya
- Tunisian military shoot at vehicles crossing illegally from Libya
- Currency Exchange:
- Bank exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 1.3991
- Black market exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 5.88
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Libya’s LNA says blockade on oil will continue
Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) said on Saturday it would maintain a blockade on oil production and exports that the National Oil Corp (NOC) says has cost the country $6.5 billion in lost revenue. Friday’s loading of a first tanker since January with oil from storage had led NOC to lift force majeure on all exports, though it warned that damage to fields meant it would take a long time to fully restore production. However, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said in an online statement that the country’s oil fields and ports are “closed until the orders of the Libyan people are implemented”, laying out conditions to lift the blockade. REUTERS
Egypt carries out military drill near Libya border
The Egyptian Army carried out a military drill near the Libyan border called “Hasm 2020”, the military said on Thursday. The drill, which included Egypt’s Armed Forces’ land, maritime and air defence, was carried out over several days and was attended by the Minister of Defense and Military Production, Mohamed Zaki, and Army Chief of Staff, Mohamed Farid. The military manoeuvre included involved multi-task aircrafts, including helicopters that use live ammunition. ARAB NEWS
African Development Bank grants $0.5 million emergency relief assistance to Libya
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank have approved a grant of $480,000 to Libya under the Special Relief Fund (SRF) for the procurement of much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) intended for treatment of cases of infection of the novel Coronavirus. The bank’s funding will contribute to supporting the country’s national response plan for COVID-19. The assistance is intended to focus on infection prevention and control and to shield communities, particularly those most vulnerable including the health workers. The $480,000 grant is considered the first granted to the North African nation under the SRF since 2014. PREMIUM TIMES
Tunisian military shoot at vehicles crossing illegally from Libya
Tunisian army troops on the border with Libya shot Tuesday 07th July at vehicles that crossed into Tunisia, said a statement by the Tunisian Ministry of Defence. There were no reports of casualties. “The military formations operating in the Manzla area in the Remada district (governorate of Tatouine) have detected Last night (at about 22:00) suspicious movements by four vehicles coming from Libyan territory and which penetrated the buffer border zone at the level of the sand barrier,” said the statement. The statement added that, according to the legally-sanctioned rules of engagement, Tunisian military units “fired warning shots to force the vehicles to stop but they did not heed the warnings. At a second stage, shots were fired at the tires. But the vehicles chose to flee. THE ARAB WEEKLY
UNHCR worried for migrants in detention centers
The UN refugee agency is once again calling for the release of migrants from detention centres in Libya. According to UNHCR, there are eleven official centres holding over 2,300 people in Libya, and many unofficial facilities about which little is known. There are eleven detention centres for migrants run by the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Libya, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR. A total 2,362 people were held at these facilities as of July 3. The situation “in official centres remains a reason for concern, especially regarding the poor living conditions, overcrowding and hygiene,” the UNHCR spokesperson said. They added that “food distribution is often inconstant.” INFOMIGRANTS
USEFUL INFORMATION
List of holidays in Libya 2020
Exchange rates – Libyan Dinar
According to our most recent information (12th & 13th July 2020) the Libyan Dinar has the following exchange rates.
The exchange rate from your own bank or credit card company will differ somewhat from the exchange rates as mentioned above. Your bank or credit card company might also apply additional international charges.
LIBYA SECURITY & RISK LEVELS
Fighting in Tripoli and around Mitiga International Airport (MIA) has significantly diminished. While specific concerns with respect to commercial air travel to and from MIA are lower, the overall security environment in Libya remains fluid, and violence across the country can occur with little warning.
U.S. citizens are reminded to review the U.S. Department of State’s latest travel advisory for Libya, which urges no travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Tunisia’s air, land, and maritime borders reopened on June 27, but the Libya-Tunisia border remains closed. U.S. citizens should continue to monitor the local news and contact airlines with specific travel questions. The Government of Tunisia provides updated border and quarantine restrictions through the Ministry of Health’s Observatoire National des Maladies Nouvelles et Emergentes (ONMNE) site https://www.facebook.com/ONMNE/. Please note that countries not specifically designated “green” or “orange” are considered “red”. U.S. citizens traveling from Libya to Tunisia should review the regulations prior to travel to Tunisia.
U.S. citizens in Libya should:
- Monitor the Embassy’s website for the most up-to-date information.
- Enroll in STEP at STEP.state.gov to receive the latest updates from the Embassy.
- Follow the advice of the CDC and local health authorities found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
- Check with your airlines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
- Monitor the Department of State’s COVID-19 website at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/covid-19-information.html.
LIBYA INCIDENT MAPPING: 07 – 14 JULY 20
LIBYA – SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS IN DETAIL
Egypt carries out military drill near Libya border
The Egyptian Army carried out a military drill near the Libyan border called “Hasm 2020”, the military said on Thursday.
The drill, which included Egypt’s Armed Forces’ land, maritime and air defence, was carried out over several days and was attended by the Minister of Defense and Military Production, Mohamed Zaki, and Army Chief of Staff, Mohamed Farid. The military manoeuvre included involved multi-task aircrafts, including helicopters that use live ammunition. “The exercises aim at eradicating elements of mercenaries, their gathering points, command centres as well as damaging all their logistics,” Egypt’s State Information Service said.
The drill came a day after the Turkish naval forces announced that they will carry out military exercises off the Libyan coast. The Turkish Navy said the manoeuvres – dubbed “Naftex” – and would take place off the Libyan coast and will include 17 warplanes and eight naval vessels.
Turkey threatens military action in Libya if Haftar doesn’t withdraw
Turkey’s chief diplomat said on Monday that military preparations had been made to seize Libya’s city of Sirte and Jufra air base if forces linked to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar did not withdraw from both areas.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in an interview with state broadcaster TRT Haber that the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) wanted to drive Haftar’s forces out of Sirte and Jufra and had Ankara’s support. “There are preparations for an operation, but we are trying the [negotiation] table. If there is no withdrawal, there is already a military preparation, they (GNA) will show all determination here,” Cavusoglu said. The foreign minister said Turkey and the GNA wanted Haftar to abide by the Libyan political agreement signed in 2015, which left the city of Sirte and the district of Jufra in the hands of the government. “Of course, the GNA doesn’t want a ceasefire without these places because Haftar is not sincere,” he added. “He is trying to buy some time while making preparations to attack Misrata and Tripoli. And he doesn’t offer anything meaningful for the political path.”
Cavusoglu vowed that Haftar would witness the same military decisiveness in Sirte and Jufra as was seen in the GNA offensive launched in May, which forced Haftar’s forces to cede territory.
REGIONAL REPORTED INCIDENT NUMBERS: 07 – 14 JULY 20
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
The US government raised the spectre of sanctions on unspecified parties involved in Libya’s civil war yesterday after Libya’s oil authority accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of obstructing efforts to restore petroleum revenue sharing between the country’s warring sides. Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Sunday alleged the UAE was behind a failure of negotiations to restart the flow of oil from petroleum fields under the influence of forces aligned with rogue Libyan Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s Libyan National Army (LNA), which the UAE supports. AL MONITOR
Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has stressed that military operation will no doubt take place if Haftar’s forces do not withdraw from Sirte and Jufra, saying that the Government of National Accord (GNA) is determined to solve this matter. Speaking to the state-owned news channel, News Turk, Çavuşoğlu disclosed that there are diplomatic efforts going on to solve this issue. “Turkey is giving more time for negotiations, but preparations for a military operation are already underway, and it will inevitably take place if Haftar’s forces refuse to withdraw,” the Turkish minister underscored. He affirmed that the GNA must control the coastal city of Sirte and the airbase in Jufra before agreeing to a ceasefire. LIBYA OBSERVER
The first round in the Turkish-French confrontation over Libya, coming atop the energy row in the eastern Mediterranean, resulted in Ankara’s favour. In early July, a furious France pulled out from a NATO security mission in the Mediterranean after a NATO investigation did not back its allegations that two Turkish frigates harassed a French warship as it sought to inspect a vessel suspected of carrying weapons to Libya last month. As Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan savoured the outcome of the investigation, many in Ankara were quick to conclude that French power was in decline. AL MONITOR
Escalating conflict in Libya threatens to do irreparable damage, Germany’s foreign minister said. Heiko Maas, speaking before Wednesday’s UN Security Council meeting chaired by Germany, criticised the deteriorating situation in the North African country and urged the international community to act. “The situation in Libya is not getting better. On the contrary: the escalation of the past weeks and months threatens to tear the country apart for good. Not even a global pandemic has been able to stop this development,” Mr Maas said. THE NATIONAL
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe said that foreign ministers will discuss Monday Libya developments and highlight the political solution for the crisis. The European Union (EU) will also host on the 23rd of July a meeting for high-rank officials to discuss the ceasefire in the country. In his statement before the United Nations Security Council, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU will host in the last week of this month a meeting for the International Follow-up Committee on Libya (IFCL). “As European Union, we believe it is high time to put an end to this military conflict. AAWSAT