Weekly Highlights
- Libyan Doctors outraged at the delayed arrival of Covid-19 vaccines
- 5+5 JMC confirms safety of Sirte to hold HoR government endorsement session
- Libyan government head Dbeibah proposes vision for new cabinet
- NOC wins arbitration case against Emirati LERCO
- Libyan coastguard rescues around 100 migrants
Currency Exchange:
- Bank exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 4.4796
- Black market exchange rate: USD 1 – LYD 5.13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Libyan Doctors outraged at the delayed arrival of Covid-19 vaccines
The Libyan General Medical Council (LGMC) called on the office of the attorney general to open an investigation into the delayed arrival of covid-19 vaccines while the country’s number of cases continues to rise rapidly day by day. They called on the Attorney General to bring those responsible for the continued delay to justice as they are responsible for the countless deaths of Libyan as a result of the spread of the virus. In a bold statement on their Facebook page, the LGMC accused those causing the delay as “The isis of public funds”, claiming that the reason behind the delay is those in power struggling over the profits they will gain from supplying vaccines to the Libyan people, despite the doses being paid for by public money. LIBYAN EXPRESS
5+5 JMC confirms safety of Sirte to hold HoR government endorsement session
The 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) confirmed yesterday, the readiness of the city of Sirte to host a reunified meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR). The JMC’s announcement came in response to the request on Friday by HoR head, Ageela Saleh, that the JMC informs officially of its ability, or the lack of, to secure an HoR session on 8 March. The 8 March session called for by Saleh is to grant confidence to the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by prime minister designate, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba. A vision of this government was presented to the HoR by Aldabaiba on Thursday 25 February. In its confirmatory statement, the JMC said in its view Sirte is ready and safe to hold the confidence-granting session to the GNU throughout the period from its beginning to its end. LIBYA HERALD
Libyan government head Dbeibah proposes vision for new cabinet
The Libyan interim government unveiled a new vision for the war-torn country as the prime minister-designate, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, on Thursday proposed a structure in accordance with the United Nations road map. Dbeibah was selected early this month in a U.N.-sponsored inter-Libyan dialogue, the latest internationally backed bid to salvage the country from a decade of conflict and fragmented political fiefdoms. But it was unclear how far progress has been made toward naming a Cabinet. “We submitted today a proposition for a structure and a working vision of a national unity government along with the selection criteria for (that) team … to the speaker of parliament,” Dbeibah told reporters in Tripoli.
NOC wins arbitration case against Emirati LERCO
Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced yesterday that it had won a decision from the Paris Court of Appeal in relation to an arbitral award in an arbitration between NOC and the Libyan Emirates Oil Refining Company (LERCO) regarding the Ras Lanuf Refinery. Reporting the details, the NOC said that on 23 February 2021, the Paris Court of Appeal issued a decision in relation to the arbitral award that was issued on January 4, 2018 in an ICC arbitration between the Libyan Emirates Oil Refining Company (LERCO) and the NOC regarding the Ras Lanuf Refinery. The NOC reported that the Paris Court’s decision confirmed LERCO’s obligation to pay it over US$115 million plus interest. LIBYA HERALD
Libyan coastguard rescues around 100 migrants
Almost 100 migrants were rescued off the west coast of Libya on Sunday. The Libyan coastguard rescued the mostly African migrants — the majority being from Cameroon, Sudan and Mali, as they attempted perilous sea crossings to Italy. The migrants were brought to a naval base in the capital Tripoli, where they were met by a team from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The survivors included six women and two children. Two people in critical condition were transported to the hospital in the capital city while around 20 were missing. On Saturday, German charity Sea-Watch said it had saved nearly 150 migrants off the Libyan coast in two operations. AFRICA NEWS
USEFUL INFORMATION
List of holidays in Libya 2021
| Date | Day | Name | Type |
| 17 Feb | Wednesday | Libyan Revolution Day | Public Holiday |
| 1 May | Saturday | May Day | Public Holiday |
| 13 May | Thursday | Eid al-Fitr | Public Holiday |
| 14 May | Friday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Public Holiday |
| 15 May | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Public Holiday |
| 19 Jul | Monday | Day of Arafah | Public Holiday |
| 20 Jul | Tuesday | Eid al-Adha | Public Holiday |
| 21 Jul | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha | Public Holiday |
| 22 Jul | Thursday | Eid al-Adha | Public Holiday |
| 10 Aug | Tuesday | Muharram | Public Holiday |
| 16 Sep | Thursday | Martyrs’ Day | Public Holiday |
| 19 Oct | Tuesday | The Prophet’s Birthday | Public Holiday |
| 23 Oct | Saturday | Liberation Day | Public Holiday |
| 24 Dec | Friday | Independence Day | Public Holiday |
Exchange rates – Libyan Dinar
According to our most recent information (01st March 2021) 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
Do not travel to Libya due to COVID-19, crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
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 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 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 advice from the Libyan government, please visit the National Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) webpage at ncdc.org.ly/Ar/
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.
LIBYA INCIDENT MAPPING: 23 FEBRUARY – 02 MARCH 21
LIBYA – SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS IN DETAIL
CIA secretly arranged call between Trump and Libya’s Haftar: Report
The CIA secretly arranged a call between former US President Donald Trump and Libya’s Khalifa Haftar as the eastern commander launched an assault on the capital Tripoli in 2019, the Washington Post reported.
The newspaper reported on Thursday, citing former administration officials, that the intelligence agency had put through a call between Trump and Haftar in April 2019, in which the US president praised Haftar’s “significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources” before his failed offensive on Tripoli.
The CIA also arranged a call with the Libyan commander and former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who urged Haftar to be “very cautious” but notified him that the US would not intervene in the country, the Post reported.
Haftar, who controls much of the country’s east, including lucrative oil fields, launched an operation in 2019 to seize control of the capital but it ultimately failed, leading to a stalemate with the Government of National Accord (GNA).
Arabic press review: UN official says Libya has 20,000 mercenaries
A senior UN diplomat in Libya told the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on Friday that there are about 20,000 mercenaries in Libya. Stephanie Williams, deputy special representative of the UN secretary-general for political affairs, stressed that these mercenaries did not enter Libya on a “red carpet”, saying that “they have to leave as Libyans reject any foreign presence in their country”.
The UN official said that the Libyan government, headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, has a “great opportunity” to lead the country to elections on 24 December and implement the “roadmap” that emerged from the Libyan dialogue.
She also confirmed that the greatest challenge the government may face is some people’s thirst for power and wealth. Williams revealed that the UN team took advantage of the “military stalemate” to push for imposing a ceasefire on 23 October, noting that among the important factors behind the success of the Libyan dialogue was “the Libyans’ rejection of the foreign presence in their country.”
REGIONAL REPORTED INCIDENT NUMBERS: 23 FEBRUARY – 02 MARCH 21
POLITICAL OVERVIEW
Libya’s Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Debiba held a meeting with Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Evarist Bartolo to discuss bilateral relations between their respective government and ongoing developments in Libya. According to a statement issued by the Maltese government, the meeting was a very positive one that addressed beneficial changes to come that include reopening the Maltese consulate and embassy in Libya, the issues of visas and residency permits to Libyans. The statement added that Prime Minister Debaiba acknowledged that Malta has always been considered a valuable alley to Libya and that the Libyan people consider their Maltese counterparts as friends, adding that in this crucial time of change in Libya he hopes that Malta will continue to offer its support. LIBYAN EXPRESS
The Libyan parliament will discuss holding a vote of confidence on a new unified government for the divided country on March 8, its powerful speaker Aguila Saleh said. Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in a popular uprising backed by a NATO air campaign a decade ago. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. The Government of National Accord (GNA) is based in Tripoli, while General Khalifa Haftar supports a parallel administration based in the east. “Parliament will convene to discuss a vote of confidence on the government on Monday, March 8, at 11 am in Sirte if the 5+5 Joint Military Commission guarantees the security of the meeting,” Saleh said in a statement late Friday, referring to a city halfway between east and west. ALARABIYA
The Libyan interim government unveiled a new vision for the war-torn country as the prime minister-designate, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, on Thursday proposed a structure in accordance with the United Nations road map. Dbeibah was selected early this month in a U.N.-sponsored inter-Libyan dialogue, the latest internationally backed bid to salvage the country from a decade of conflict and fragmented political fiefdoms. But it was unclear how far progress has been made toward naming a Cabinet. “We submitted today a proposition for a structure and a working vision of a national unity government along with the selection criteria for (that) team … to the speaker of parliament,” Dbeibah told reporters in Tripoli. DAILY SABAH
Eighty-four members of parliament from Tobruk and Tripoli announced Wednesday they will give the new Libyan interim government and its soon-to-be-formed Government of National Unity their vote of confidence “without restrictions or conditions.” “We, the undersigned representatives, call on our colleagues to hold a session to give confidence to the national unity government,” they wrote in a statement. The statement was issued one day after a meeting was held in Tripoli to determine the venue for the session. Despite the presence of 140 members of parliament in Tripoli, just 40 attended. The statement also called on newly elected Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to form a unity government that has “competence, honesty, experience.” DAILY SABAH
AIRPORTS & BORDERS STATUS
