Weekly Highlights
- Turkey, Libya and Qatar agree on signing military deal
- New deal bears more projects for Turkish firms in Libya, investments, exports to follow
- Tripoli Interior Ministry to reopen Libya-Tunisia borders, subject to anti-Corona health measures
- NOC warns of deepening power cuts in eastern Libya
- Benghazi port receives 398 containers of mixed goods
- Currency Exchange:
- Bank exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 1.3716
- Black market exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 6.45
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Turkey, Libya and Qatar agree on signing military deal
Libya has agreed with Turkey and Qatar to sign a tripartite deal for military cooperation to boost capabilities of the Libyan military. The agreement was announced by Libya’s deputy defence minister Salah Al Namroush on Monday 17 Aug. According to media office of the government led Burkan Al Ghadab (Volcano of Rage) Operation, al Namroush said Turkey and Qatar will establish facilities in Libya for military training and consultancy. He also added that as part of the deal, Turkey and Qatar will send consultants and military personnel to Libya. TRT WORLD
New deal bears more projects for Turkish firms in Libya, investments, exports to follow
As Libya’s U.N.-backed government in Tripoli prepares to reconstruct the civil war-torn country, many projects lie ahead, including accelerating the already initiated ones like those carried out by Turkish contractors. DEIK Turkey-Libya Business Council Chairman Murtaza Karanfil, who is also a Libya representative of the Turkish Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSIAD), told Anadolu Agency (AA) in a report published Friday that Libya plans to kick off 184 new projects, prioritizing infrastructure, health and education, and has allocated a $16 billion (TL 118 billion) budget for this. DAILY SABAH
Tripoli Interior Ministry to reopen Libya-Tunisia borders, subject to anti-Corona health measures
Libya’s Tripoli based Interior Ministry announced yesterday that it was ready to reopen the country’s borders with Tunisia, subject to adequate preventative health measures being put in place. The revelation came after an expanded meeting in Tripoli between the various Interior Ministry departments and Libya’s prime anti-Coronavirus body, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). LIBYA HERALD
NOC warns of deepening power cuts in eastern Libya
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has warned of worsening blackouts in eastern Libya due to a months-long blockade of oil and gas facilities. Blackouts and power cuts have been common for years in oil-rich Libya but have often been worse in the west of the divided country. However, over the past 10 days, cuts in eastern regions have sometimes lasted up to 12 hours. Libya is split between rival factions and governments based in the west and east. REUTERS
Benghazi port receives 398 containers of mixed goods
Containers of mixed goods and ships carrying grain and cement are amongst the ships that have docked this week at Benghazi port, its authority announced. The activity highlights the fact that trade continues, and Libya continues to import in the hundreds of millions of dollars of its oil revenues on goods from abroad. The report indicates a number of factors. It shows that maritime trade and shipping is very active into Libyan ports and that Benghazi port has made full recovery playing its role in supplying the eastern region. LIBYA HERALD
IMO: Libyan Coast Guard intercepted 6989 persons in the sea since the beginning of the year
The International Migration Organisation has disclosed that the number of migrants intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard and returned to the country has reached 6989 since the beginning of the year. In most cases those returned are sent to detention centres, IOM said on its Twitter account, indicating that 141 migrants were intercepted during the period 04-09 August. LANA NEWS
USEFUL INFORMATION
List of holidays in Libya 2020
Exchange rates – Libyan Dinar
According to our most recent information (17th August 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
Crime levels in Libya remain high, including the threat of kidnapping for ransom. Westerners and U.S. citizens have been targets of these crimes.
Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Libya. Violent extremist activity in Libya remains high, and extremist groups have made threats against U.S. government officials and citizens. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, hotels, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.
Outbreaks of violence between competing armed groups can occur with little warning and have the potential to impact U.S. citizens. The capital, Tripoli, and other cities, such as Surman, Al-Jufra, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Sabha, and Dernah, have witnessed fighting among armed groups, as well as terrorist attacks. Hotels and airports frequented by Westerners have been the targets of these attacks. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.
For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)
If you decide to travel to Libya:
- Carry proof of citizenship and valid immigration status at all times.
- Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
- Make contingency plans to leave.
- Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organisation or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
- Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization.
LIBYA INCIDENT MAPPING: 11 – 18 AUGUST 20
LIBYA – SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS IN DETAIL
Turkish army deploys Korkut 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system in Libya
According to satellite images released on the Twitter account of Sukhoi Su-57 Felon on August 15, 2020, Turkish armed forces have deployed its Korkut 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun system at the Al-Watia airbase in Libya.
The Korkut is a short-range self-propelled air defense 35mm gun system developed and manufactured in Turkey by the Companies Aselsan and FNSS. It was unveiled during IDEF, Defense Exhibition in Istanbul in May 2013. The Korkut is designed to offer an effective ground-based short-range air defense system able to destroy modern air threats at a maximum range of 4 km. The Korkut short-range air defense systems consist of one Command and Control tracked vehicle and three 35mm Gun System tracked vehicles. The Command and Control Vehicle detects and tracks targets with its 3D search radar and while developing a local air picture, evaluates threats and assigns targets to the Weapon System Vehicles.
Authorities detonate mines and IEDs collected from Tripoli
Libyan National Safety Authority has detonated over 50 tons of mines and IEDs (shells and rockets) collected from Tripoli and its suburbs. The Interior Ministry said mine clearance teams of the authority carried out the explosion operation in Hira Valley in southern Tripoli at the presence of a Tripoli ambulance team.
In July, the Volcano of Rage Operation’s military engineering teams detonated 14 tons of mines and IEDs planted by militias and Russian mercenaries in different areas. The Defense Ministry of the Government of National Accord said 55 deaths among 162 total casualties had been reported so far due to mine explosion incidents: 64 mine clearance workers and 98 civilians.
REGIONAL REPORTED INCIDENT NUMBERS: 11 – 18 AUGUST 20
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas arrived on Monday in the Libyan capital Tripoli on a surprise visit aimed at helping ease the ongoing conflict. Upon his arrival, he said the situation was “very dangerous” in the North African country. “We see a deceptive calm in Libya at the moment. Both sides and their international allies are continuing to arm the country on a massive scale and are maintaining conditions for a ceasefire,” he added in a statement. The German official’s visit coincided with the arrival of the defense ministers of Turkey and Qatar, Hulusi Akar and Khalid Al-Attiyah, to Tripoli, reported local media. ASHARQ AL-AWSAT
A reliable security source has urged the Minister of Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashagha, to intervene and combat corruption as well as organised crime in Libya, according to Ean Libya News Outlet. The source, who preferred not to be named for security reasons, told the Minister of the Interior: “One last opportunity for to prove that you are serious in fighting corruption and organized crime. You have a security director in Al-Zawiya city. He is under your command. According to the Attorney General’s report, he is pressuring a bank in Tripoli to do some stuff worth more than 12 million dollars and pass them to the UAE. This relates to companies banned by the Attorney General on charges of money laundering and damage to the Libyan economy.” LIBYAN EXPRESS
The internationally recognized Libyan government based in Tripoli signed economic and trade understandings with Turkey in Ankara on Thursday, according to the Libya Herald daily. The agreement is part of cooperation between the two countries to complete 184 stalled construction projects in Libya estimated at $16 billion. Speaking at a press conference after the signing event, Tripoli’s planning minister, Taher Al-Jahemi, said Turkey had the” lion’s share” of projects in Libya. The deal will lay the groundwork for resolving ongoing issues between Turkish firms and Libyan employers, making new investments and undertaking new projects, Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan told a meeting held in Ankara, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. TURKISH MINUTE
US ambassador Richard Norland met in Cairo with Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HOR) Speaker Aqila Saleh to learn about the HOR’s efforts to promote a demilitarized solution for Sirte and Jufra, enable the National Oil Corporation to resume its vital work while ensuring that oil and gas revenues are managed transparently, and improve governance leading to credible and peaceful elections. The US embassy in Libya said ambassador Norland expressed support for the Saleh’s aspirations and those of all responsible Libyan elements, for a Libyan solution to end the conflict and ensure a stable and prosperous future for the Libyan people. LIBYA OBSERVER
AIRPORTS & BORDERS STATUS
As at 17 Aug, 434 COVID19 patients, 39 recoveries and 8 deaths have been reported by the NCDC in Libya. The updated total is 8172 patients; of whom 153 died and 933 recovered, while 7086 patients are still being hospitalised.
