Weekly Highlights
- Key players in Libya conflict seek cease-fire in talks
- Key military, security agreements reached between Libyan sides
- Morocco mediates between Al-Mishri and Saleh to save Libya dialogue
- Libya’s oil production reaches 300,000 bpd a week after resumption
- UNHCR Supports Libya in Fight against COVID-19
- Currency Exchange:
- Bank exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 1.3743
- Black market exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 6.12
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Key players in Libya conflict seek cease-fire in talks
World powers and other countries with interests in Libya’s long-running civil war sat down Monday for virtual ministerial talks in a meeting co-hosted by the United Nations and Germany aimed at promoting a cease-fire between the North African country’s rival governments. Germany has been trying to act as an intermediary in the conflict, and in January held a summit in Berlin where participants from both sides agreed to respect an arms embargo and push Libya´s warring parties to reach a full cease-fire. That agreement has been repeatedly violated. DAILY MAIL
Key military, security agreements reached between Libyan sides
Security arrangements for oil installations dominated the Hurghada talks between rival Libyan sides that took place September 28-29. The 5+5 group that emerged from the Berlin conference examined security arrangements, with the tasks and responsibilities of the Petroleum Facilities Guard being transferred to the Joint Military Committee. The group also took measures to ensure the regularity of the production and export process. The resumption of oil production and export began gradually after the Sochi agreement between the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and vice-president of the Presidential Council for the city of Misrata Ahmed Maitig. THE ARAB WEEKLY
Morocco mediates between Al-Mishri and Saleh to save Libya dialogue
A member of the dialogue delegation of Libya’s High Council of State confirmed ongoing Moroccan efforts to organise a meeting between the council Chairman Khalid Al-Mishri and Speaker of the House of Representatives in Tobruk Aguila Saleh. The delegation member, who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity, added that the two representatives, on behalf of the High Council of State and the Tobruk parliament, have not yet held an official meeting. The source revealed that members of the two delegations were counting on the presence of Al-Mishri and Saleh to start the meeting, adding that Al-Mishri earlier expressed his willingness to attend the talks, unlike Saleh who seemed hesitant. MEMO
Libya’s oil production reaches 300,000 bpd a week after resumption
Libya’s oil production has more than tripled since the port blockade has been lifted, reaching around 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) after the restart of another oilfield, creating a new headache for fellow OPEC members who are trying to rebalance the market while demand is still weak. The 200,000-bpd Sarir oilfield resumed operations on Tuesday, Bloomberg quoted the operator Arabian Gulf Oil Co (Agoco) as saying. The field is currently pumping just 30,000 bpd, but it took Libya’s total production to nearly 300,000 bpd, up from less than 100,000 bpd before the blockade was lifted in the middle of September. One week after the blockade was lifted, Libya was producing around 250,000 bpd as of Sunday. LIBYAN EXPRESS
UNHCR Supports Libya in Fight against COVID-19
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) mission in Libya said on Saturday that it provided medical support to the COVID-19 quarantine centres in the country. This came as reports claimed that several members of the locally based rapid response team had contracted the virus. Following coordination with local authorities, the UNHCR said it had provided kits, medicines, and disinfection tools to the quarantine centres in Zawiya, north-western Libya. House of Representatives (HOR) member Miloud Al-Aswad said several cases were reported among members of the rapid response team in Riqdalin who contracted the virus while they were performing their tasks. AL-AWSAT
USEFUL INFORMATION
List of holidays in Libya 2020
Exchange rates – Libyan Dinar
According to our most recent information (04th October 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: 20 SEPTEMBER – 06 OCTOBER 20
LIBYA – SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS IN DETAIL
Key military, security agreements reached between Libyan sides
Security arrangements for oil installations dominated the Hurghada talks between rival Libyan sides that took place September 28-29. The 5+5 group that emerged from the Berlin conference examined security arrangements, with the tasks and responsibilities of the Petroleum Facilities Guard being transferred to the Joint Military Committee. The group also took measures to ensure the regularity of the production and export process.
Sources told The Arab Weekly that the issue is a high priority for US officials, and that Washington had thrown its weight behind the talks sponsored by the head of the UN Support Mission to Libya and acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams, who seems to be relying heavily on Egypt to solve the dilemma.
The resumption of oil production and export began gradually after the Sochi agreement between the General Command of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and vice-president of the Presidential Council for the city of Misrata Ahmed Maitig. The Sochi agreement reflected Russia’s strong influence over the oil file, which for decades had been largely controlled by the US. Sources who spoke to The Arab Weekly cited the Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s announcement that he would step down by the end of October as being influenced by US pressure.
UN Libya envoy welcomes ‘positive development’ in Hurghada talks
UN special representative on Libya Stephanie Williams welcomed on Sunday the “positive development” witnessed during talks between the warring parties in the Red Sea resort city of Hurghada. Williams, speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, pointed out that trust was being built between the Libyan delegations in Hurghada, hoping that negotiations will end with “a permanent ceasefire agreement.”
She noted that the ceasefire deal, agreed upon in August, between the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord’s (GNA) head Fayez Al-Sarraj and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives’ speaker Aguila Saleh led the Libyans themselves to suggest holding talks in Egypt. Previous talks in Hurghada, which took place in late September, saw an agreement between the Libyan parties to work on the release of all prisoners and protect the North African state’s oil and gas facilities to completely resume production and export activities.
Williams added that most of the Libyan parties are “now more convinced than ever before that the solution to the conflict has to be ‘political’,” stressing that military intervention and imposing blockades on natural resources did not lead to positive outcomes.
REGIONAL REPORTED INCIDENT NUMBERS: 29 SEPTEMBER – 06 OCTOBER 20
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
The Government of National Accord (GNA) has agreed with the Turkish government to expand cooperation during the next stage in various economic and development fields, a statement by the Presidential Council head media office said on Facebook. The PC statement came following the meeting that took place, on Sunday, in Istanbul, between the PC Chair, Fayez Al-Sarraj, and Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the presence of senior officials from both sides. The visit comes within the framework of consultation, coordination, and exchange of views between the two countries, the PC head media office explained. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in Libya and the political solution to the ongoing crisis within the framework of the Berlin conference. LIBYA OBSERVER
The Spokesman for the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections, Basim Al-Modi, stated that the committee would hold elections for more than 30 municipalities in the western and southern regions before the end of this year. Al-Modi also said in a press statement on Saturday that October 15 would be the date for the election of the municipalities of southern Al-Zawiya, Al-Haraba and Jado, explaining that the committee, later this month, will announce the opening of nominations in 10 separate municipalities, including most of the municipalities of greater Tripoli. LIBYA OBSERVER
Morocco is hosting the second round of inter-Libyan dialogue, convening delegations from Libya’s High Council of State and House of Representatives in Bouznika, near Rabat. The talks started on Friday evening as part of the decision of Libyan parties to resume dialogue to find a political solution to the Libya conflict. On Saturday, Driss Omran, a member of the Libyan House of Representatives delegation, said the meeting took place in a “climate of understanding and consensus.” He said the parties of the conflict will continue meetings to reach a consensus on all measures relating to Article 15 of the Libyan political agreement outlined in the 2015 Skhirat agreement. MOROCCO WORLD NEWS
Diplomats meet on Monday for a digital follow-up to this year’s Berlin conference on Libya, with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas set to attend the talks. Representatives of the 16 states and international organizations that took part in the summit in the German capital in January will meet online at 1330 GMT in a fresh push to get Libya on the path to peace. Germany invited world powers and regional actors to a peace conference on Libya in a bid to thrash out a lasting cease-fire deal and pave the way for a political solution. At the talks nine months ago, the powers involved had pledged to bring about a lasting cease-fire, implement a U.N. arms embargo and end foreign interference in the war that erupted in 2011. DAILY SABAH
AIRPORTS & BORDERS STATUS
