Mediaboss Marketing

Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar gestures as he speaks during Independence Day celebrations in Benghazi, Libya December 24, 2020. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori/File Photo

TRIPOLI, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar clashed with Chadian rebel forces in the south of Libya on Tuesday and Wednesday, both sides said.

The fighting underscores the risk of further instability in the Sahel region, where an array of groups operate across borders and where fighting has created space for militant organisations.

Statements from the LNA, which holds most of eastern and southern Libya, said it was engaged in military operations against what it called terrorist groups and the Chadian opposition.

The rebel group Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) said via social media that its positions on the frontier had been attacked by Haftar's forces, fighting alongside what it said were Sudanese mercenaries and French troops.

The LNA said it had carried out air strikes and was conducting aerial patrols. FACT said French air strikes had hit its positions.

The French army said it had no forces on the ground or in the air in that area.

FACT had been based in Libya and fought alongside the LNA during periods of Libya's civil war, receiving heavy arms from Haftar, researchers say. read more

In April, FACT advanced into northern Chad, battling the army there. Chadian authorities said president Idriss Deby, who had ruled for 30 years, was killed in the clashes. His son has taken over as transitional president.

The LNA, which was backed in the Libyan conflict by the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Egypt, also used fighters from Sudan and Syria as well as those provided by the Russian Wagner Group, a U.N. panel of experts has said.

The UAE deployed drone strikes in support of the LNA during its foiled 14-month offensive to capture Tripoli, which ended last year. The U.S. military has said that Russia flew jets to Libya last year to support LNA operations.

Major fighting in Libya's civil war has been paused since the LNA offensive ended last year and both sides have accepted a ceasefire, an interim unity government and the idea of elections, although mercenaries remain dug in on both sides.

France intervened in the Sahel in 2013, sending forces to help fight militants in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, but grew impatient at political turmoil and said in July it would halve its troop numbers from the 5,000 then deployed.

Reporting by Reuters Libya Newsroom, additional reporting by John Irish in Paris and Bate Felix in Dakar, Editing by William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Go here to see the original:
East Libyan forces and Chadian rebels clash in southern Libya - Reuters

A Libyan flag flutters atop the Libyan Consulate in Athens, Greece, December 6, 2019. REUTERS/Costas Baltas/File Photo

CAIRO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Egypt and Libya's unity government signed a series of cooperation agreements and several infrastructure contracts on Thursday as Cairo eyes reconstruction opportunities in its oil-rich neighbour.

Though Libya's political prospects remain uncertain, the deals are the latest sign of Egypt's efforts to re-engage with Tripoli after years of siding with east Libya-based forces engaged in a conflict that split the country.

Libya was a major market for Egyptian firms and workers before uprisings in both countries in 2011.

The 14 memorandums of understanding, signed during a visit to Cairo by Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, cover sectors ranging from industry and hydrocarbons to agriculture, communications, and civil aviation, according to a statement from Egypt's Cabinet.

Project contracts signed between the Libyan government and prominent Egyptian companies include a ring road around the Libyan capital Tripoli, another road leading south to Jalu from the eastern town of Ajdabiya, and the construction and supply of two gas plants.

No detail was given on the value of the contracts.

Earlier, Dbeibah met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who affirmed Egypt's desire for stability in Libya and offered support to help the country hold national elections planned for the end of the year, according to an Egyptian presidency statement.

On Tuesday, Sisi received Khalifa Haftar, the military commander based in eastern Libya who has been backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates but whose campaign to take Tripoli fell apart last year, as well as Agilah Saleh, the head of a parliament based in the east.

Both are seen as potential spoilers of the United Nations-backed plan to hold elections by the end of the year. Sisi called on them as well as Dbeibah to stick to the election timetable, two Egyptian intelligence sources said.

Egypt will face competition over commercial contracts in western Libya from Turkey, a regional rival which intervened militarily to help repel Haftar's forces but is now trying to mend ties with Cairo.

Reporting by Momen Saeed Atallah and Ahmed Mohamed HassanWriting by Aidan LewisEditing by Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Go here to read the rest:
Egypt signs flurry of deals with Libya's unity government - Reuters

Jn Kubi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) briefed ambassadors on developments ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections due to take place on 24 December.

They were agreed under a political roadmap stemming from the historic October 2020 ceasefire between Libyas rival authorities, and the establishment of a Government of National Unity (GNU) earlier this year.

Libya is at a crossroads where positive or negative outcomes are equally possible, said Mr. Kubi. With the elections there is an opportunity for Libya to movegraduallyand convincingly into a more stable, representative and civilian track.

He reported that the House of Representatives has adopted a law on the presidential election, while legislation for the parliamentary election is being finalized and could be considered and approved within the coming weeks.

Although the High National Election Commission (HNEC) has received the presidential election law, another body, the High State Council, complained that it had been adopted without consultation.

The HNEC chairman has said it will be ready to start implementation once the laws are received, and will do everything possible to meet the 24 December deadline.

Thus, it is for the High National Election Commissionto establish a clear electoral calendar to lead the country to the elections, with support of the international community, for the efforts of the Government of National Unity,all the respective authorities and institutions to deliver as free and fair, inclusive and credible elections as possible under the demanding and challenging conditions and constraints, said Mr. Kubi.

The international community could help create more conducive conditions for this by facilitating the start of a gradual withdrawal of foreign elements from Libya without delay.

The UN envoy also called for countries and regional organizations to provide electoral observers to help ensure the integrity and credibility of the process, as well as acceptance of the results.

He also welcomed progress so far, including in updating the voter registry and the launch of a register for eligible voters outside the country.

So far, more than 2.8 million Libyans have registered to vote, 40 per cent of whom are women. Additionally, more than half a million new voters will also be casting their ballots.

Most of the newly registered are under 30, a clear testament to the young generations eagerness to take part in determining the fate of their country through a democratic process. The Libyan authorities and leaders must not let them down, said Mr. Kubi.

He stressed that the international community also has a responsibility to support the positive developments in Libya, and to stand firm against attempts at derailment.

Not holding the elections could gravely deteriorate the situation in the country, could lead to division and conflict, he warned.I urge the Libyan actors to join forces and ensure inclusive, free, fair parliamentary and presidential elections, which are to be seen as the essential step in further stabilizing and uniting Libya."

The rest is here:
Elections represent an opportunity for stability and unity in Libya - UN News

Smoke rises after an attack on the Administrative Control Authority in Tripoli, Libya, August 31, 2021. REUTERS/Hazem Ahmed/File Photo

TRIPOLI, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Fighting broke out in Tripoli early on Friday between rival armed forces, the heaviest clashes in the Libyan capital since the conflict between eastern and western factions paused a year ago.

A resident of the Salah al-Din district in southern Tripoli said shooting began at about 2.30 a.m. and continued through the morning with medium and light weapons.

Conflict in Tripoli between the armed groups who vie to control both territory and state institutions would further undermine the prospect of December elections as part of a plan to end a decade of chaos, violence and division.

Despite a ceasefire and progress earlier this year towards a political solution to Libya's crisis, there has been no movement towards integrating its myriad armed groups into a unified national military.

The new fighting pitted the 444 Brigade against the Stabilisation Support Force, two of the main forces in Tripoli, a witness said.

The head of the Tripoli Military Zone, a structure set up to organise the various armed forces in the city during the civil war, indicated that the fighting was aimed at curbing the activities of 444 Brigade.

"What happened is to correct the brigade's deviation from its course and non-compliance with military orders," Abdulbaset Marwan said in a video statement.

The 444 Brigade told Reuters it had been "surprised by an assault by armed men" and said it was surprised at Marwan's statement.

The United Nations Libya mission called for an immediate halt in the fighting, saying it had "grave concern".

VIOLENCE

Libya is a major oil producer and though it has been able to maintain output over the past decade, disputes have sometimes shut down exports, including for months last year.

The fighting follows major clashes last month in the city of Zawiya, west of Tripoli, and smaller incidents of friction or clashes inside the capital including a gunfight this week at a state institution.

In eastern Libya, controlled by Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), there have also been shootings and other incidents of violence in recent months.

Libya has had little peace since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, and it divided in 2014 between warring eastern and western factions.

However, they agreed a ceasefire last year and a new unity government that both sides backed was installed in March to prepare for national elections in December, moves seen as the best chance for peace in years.

The Tripoli-based unity government has however struggled to unify state institutions or prepare for elections, with the eastern-based parliament rejecting its budget and failing to agree a constitutional basis for a vote.

Political factions have squabbled repeatedly over the role and powers of the interim government as well as over the control of state institutions and the public purse.

Wolfram Lacher, of the German thinktank SWP, said that although there was the possibility of further escalation, a mediated solution was likely to resolve the fighting in the short term.

However, "similar clashes are bound to recur in Tripoli and elsewhere", he added.

Reporting by Ahmed Elumami in Tripoli and Hani Amara in Istanbul, writing by Angus McDowall, editing by Mark Heinrich, William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Follow this link:
Worst Tripoli fighting in a year shows limits of Libya peace push - Reuters

by: EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS (AP) U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is again urging countries to withdraw all foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya, saying they continue to operate throughout the conflict-stricken North African country in violation of last Octobers cease-fire agreement with no discernible abatement of their activities.

The U.N. chief also urged countries supplying arms and military equipment to the foreign fighters to stop violating the U.N. arms embargo, saying, the movement of aircraft providing logistical support also continued unabated at airbases in central Libya in the strategic city of Sirte and nearby Jufra area.

In a report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Friday, Guterres called for implementation of a comprehensive plan for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya, with clear timelines.

He also urged Libyan parties to exert every effort to ensure that parliamentary and presidential elections are held on Dec. 24 in accordance with the political road map that ended hostilities last year.

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 and split the country between a U.N.-supported government in the capital, Tripoli, and rival authorities loyal to commander Khalifa Hifter in the east. Each have been backed by different armed groups and foreign governments.

Hifter launched a military offensive in 2019 to capture the capital, a campaign backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and France. But his march on Tripoli ultimately failed in June 2020 after Turkey sent troops to support the government, which also had the backing of Qatar and Italy.

Subsequent U.N.-sponsored peace talks brought about a cease-fire last October and installed an interim government that is expected to lead the country into December elections, but the Libyan parliament has so far failed to agree on a legal framework to hold elections.

Guterres cited initial differences over whether presidential elections should be carried out by direct voting or indirectly by the elected parliament, whether a referendum on the draft permanent constitution should be held first, and eligibility criteria for candidates including military personnel and dual citizens.

The U.N. chief urged the parties and institutions to clarify the constitutional basis for elections and to adopt the necessary electoral laws.

The political process is now reaching a critical stage and the gains achieved in early 2021 are under threat, Guterres warned. It is imperative that the political process fulfills the aspirations of the Libyan people for representative governance brought about through democratic elections.

In July, the U.N. special envoy for Libya, Jan Kubis, accused spoilers of trying to obstruct the holding of Decembers crucial elections to unify the divided nation. He told the Security Council that many key players in Libya reiterated their commitment to the elections, but I am afraid many of them are not ready to walk the talk.

The Security Council has warned that any individual or group undermining the electoral process could face U.N. sanctions.

Guterres quoted Kubis warning that the continued presence of thousands of mercenaries and numerous foreign fighters remains a significant threat not only to the security of Libya but to the region.

The U.N. chief also warned that the presence and activities of violent extremist organizations including affiliates of al-Qaida and the Islamic State were reported in all regions, including in the form of direct threats against civilians and United Nations personnel and attacks against security forces.

The 16-page report details ongoing human rights abuses by armed groups and units affiliated with the government, including killings, enforced disappearances and conflict-related sexual violence.

Guterres called for an end to those abuses and to the continued arbitrary detention of migrants in inhumane conditions in formal detention centers and informal smuggler-operated sites.

More:
UN chief: mercenaries and foreign fighters must leave Libya - WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com