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Author: LS

French Investigation Reveals Frontex Involvement in Handing Migrants Over to Libyan Militias

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A French investigation revealed by “Le Monde” yesterday certificates that migrants intercepted by Libyan militias called “Tariq ben Ziyad,” operating outside the jurisdiction of coastal patrols, were transferred in the central Mediterranean. The interception occurred with the support of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, “Frontex,” responsible for facilitating the redirection of irregular migrants based on their point of origin.

According to the French newspaper, the investigation traced the activities of a the fast Libyan boat named “Tariq bin Ziyad,” which regularly intercepted migrant boats in the Mediterranean, within the European Search and Rescue region, supported by Frontex.

The French investigation reported that “Tariq bin Ziyad” was inscribed on the blue structure of the boat, indicating it is a militia intentionally intercepting migrant boats off the coasts of Libya and beyond, in the Maltese region that is supposed to fall under the European Union’s jurisdiction.

The newspaper revealed that the Maltese armed forces and Frontex had provided coordinates of migrant boats seeking to reach Europe to this armed group, leading to the interception of migrants and their forced return to Libya, where they became victims of “ill-treatment,” constituting a “complete violation of international law.”

The investigation further disclosed that the militia had detained hundreds of migrants who had their destination redirected, subjected them to torture, beatings, and some were thrown into port waters, left there for hours to have their skin eaten by salt.

In recent years, Malta, located on a major migration route between North Africa and Europe, has faced criticism from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, and human rights organizations for its methods to prevent migrants from reaching its shores.

Based on accounts from migrants, including Syrians and Lebanese, who embarked on the sea journey towards the southern coasts of Malta or Italy with hopes of joining one of the countries there, the dream of a Lebanese young man named Bassel was shattered in Libya. Using an alias for security reasons, he expressed his optimism at the beginning of the journey, only to find himself in Libya unexpectedly.

Adapted from Le Monde

The Mayor of Ghadames Announces Postponement of the Crossing Opening between Algeria and Libya

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The mayor of Ghadames, Qasim Al-Mani’, announced the postponement of the opening of the Ghadames crossing between the two countries, Algeria and Libya, which was supposed to take place today. He explained that the delay is due to unforeseen circumstances requiring the completion of some logistical procedures necessary for the crossing.

Al-Mani’ affirmed that the procedures would be completed within the next two days, and a new date for the opening of the crossing will be determined and announced.

Dbeibeh Discusses Political Issues and Cooperation with EU Ambassadors

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Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, engaged in a meeting with accredited European Union ambassadors to Libya. The discussions covered various political issues and the cooperation dossier between Libya and EU member states.

Dbeibeh highlighted the Libyan people’s stance on the crimes against the Palestinian people, expressing support for international efforts towards ceasefires and ending aggression. He emphasized the necessity for the European Union to unify efforts to halt Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.

The Prime Minister welcomed the initiative presented by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, focusing on Libyan political affairs. He stated that this initiative aligns with international efforts to conduct elections under fair and impartial laws. Al-Debaiba added that the Libyan people reject transitional stages and aspire for stability through elections, considering themselves the ultimate decision-makers in all outcomes, making their participation a crucial necessity.

The Dean of EU Ambassadors and Spain’s Ambassador to Libya expressed gratitude for the positive conditions in Libya compared to previous years. He affirmed that the Spanish embassy is now operating from Tripoli, providing services to the Libyan people after a ten-year absence.

The EU Ambassador to Libya reiterated the Union’s support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya’s upcoming dialogue. He welcomed the acceptance of the National Unity Government and praised the collaborative efforts between Libya and the European Union, particularly in addressing irregular migration and fostering economic cooperation across various sectors.

Gaderboh Discusses Urgent Solutions for Healthcare Challenges with the Attorney General

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Abdullah Gaderboh, the head of the Administrative Control Authority, met with the Attorney General, Seddiq Al-Sour, to address the issues facing patients and wounded individuals receiving medical treatment abroad. The discussions focused on evaluating their critical health and living conditions.

Both parties agreed on the necessity of swiftly implementing urgent solutions to address the problems and difficulties encountered by those undergoing treatment abroad. The interruption of medical services for an extended period due to the delayed payment of accumulated debts owed by the state to foreign healthcare facilities has been a significant concern.

The meeting also covered collaborative efforts between the two entities concerning the latest annual report for the year 2022. Additionally, discussions included the precautionary measures taken by the Authority against several state employees, based on public interest considerations and requirements.

Minister of Oil and Gas: Libya Aims for 2 Million Barrels of Daily Oil Production in 3-5 Years

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Minister of Oil and Gas in the National Unity Government, Mohamed Aoun, outlined the need for 3 to 5 years to reach a daily oil production of 2 million barrels in Libya. He encouraged Russian companies to participate in upcoming exploration projects by the National Oil Corporation, with bidding opportunities expected in 2024.

The current oil production in Libya for 2023 stands at approximately 1.2 million barrels of crude oil per day, and the Ministry of Oil and Gas plans to gradually increase production in 2024. Minister Aoun emphasized the importance of transparency, competency, and experience in achieving this goal.

Regarding the impact of the OPEC+ decision to reduce production by over a million barrels per day, Aoun stated that Libya is not significantly affected, emphasizing that OPEC’s goal is to maintain market balance between supply and demand.

Addressing the memorandum of understanding signed between Egypt and South Korea for the establishment of an oil export line from Libya to Europe through the port of Gerga, west of Egypt, near the Libyan border, Minister Aoun highlighted Libya’s seven existing ports for oil, gas, petrochemicals, and gas condensates export. He stated that Libya does not require additional export routes.

On discussions or negotiations with Russian companies on oil or gas projects in Libya, Aoun clarified that the Ministry of Oil and Gas has not engaged in any discussions or negotiations with Russian companies in Libya. Previous discussions with Russian officials aimed to encourage investment in Libya’s oil and gas sector.

Al-Mabrouk: Ministry of Finance Retrieves Over 120 Million Dollars from Global Countries

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During the 10th meeting of the Cabinet this year, the Minister of Finance in the National Unity Government, Khaled Al-Mabrouk, stated that the ministry has opened the file on loans, successfully retrieving over 120 million dollars. These funds are now available in the financial accounts after resolving outstanding debts between Libya and various countries worldwide. The ministry has actively engaged in communication with these countries to settle the debts.

Al-Mabrouk clarified that Poland has repaid a loan amounting to 766 thousand dollars. However, they faced difficulties with the repayment, and pressure was applied to renegotiate the terms. Poland requested a reduction in the interest rate from 3% to 2%, resulting in a savings of 8.4 million dollars if the Cabinet approves the annual interest rate adjustment of 2%. He affirmed that if the Cabinet agrees to the interest rate adjustment, the settlement will proceed accordingly.

Prime Minister, Dbeibeh, commented that the state has a law prohibiting interest, whether in taking or giving. If they manage to achieve the repayment of the debt without any interest, it is considered a gain, and they appreciate it. He mentioned, “We take their Haram (forbidden) more than their Halal (permissible). They bring only what they have, and that’s enough.”

Dbeibeh: “Political Division in Libya Caused by Legislative Authority’s Financial Violations”

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During the 10th meeting this year at the South Refinery headquarters, the head of the National Unity Government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, stated that the legislative authority, benefiting from Libyan funds, has engaged in all sorts of violations, particularly legal and constitutional ones, damaging the state’s identity. He criticized its sessions where laws are approved, formulated, and annulled simultaneously, becoming a source of warning and amusement, with attendees not exceeding the fingers on one hand.

Dbeibeh explained that everything in the country has changed for the better, with the government focusing on improving and enhancing services, raising their efficiency. He credited the success to the efforts of the government, its officials, agencies, and institutions. He welcomed the UN initiative, urging the five Libyan parties to meet and dialogue. He emphasized four conditions for the initiative’s success, including building trust to secure the electoral process and ensuring fair, transparent, and executable electoral laws without any selective provisions or hidden agendas. He stressed that the success of the dialogue relies on preventing parallel tracks from interfering with the main goal of heading towards elections.

The Prime Minister added that the legislative authority, monopolizing decisions, prevented and continues to prevent elections. He criticized the uncontrolled parallel spending, amounting to 15 billion dinars, and called on oversight and security entities to disclose this expenditure.

The Central Bank: State Expenditure Reached Over 4.2 Billion Dinars This Year

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The Libyan Central Bank, in its monthly statement for the current year released today, Tuesday, revealed that the total revenue amounted to 110.5 billion dinars, while the total expenditure reached 91.7 billion dinars.

The Central Bank’s statement clarified the size of state expenditures, indicating that the expenditure for the House of Representatives reached a total of 1.3 billion dinars, while the expenditure for the Cabinet of the Government of National Unity during this year amounted to over 2.55 billion dinars.

The statement by the Central Bank further specified that the expenditure for the Presidential Council totaled more than 676 million dinars, and the expenditure for the High Council of State exceeded 71.6 million dinars. Regarding the Ministry of Finance, the expenditure amounted to a total value of 23.512 billion dinars.

The statement also outlined the state’s expenditure in foreign currency uses, reaching a value of 32.812 billion dollars.

Abdul Mohsen Affirms Progress: “Coalition of Egyptian Companies on Schedule for Third Ring Road Implementation in Tripoli”

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The project manager of the Third Ring Road in Tripoli, affiliated with the Coalition of Egyptian Companies, Adel Abdul Mohsen, affirmed in a statement to the “Flusna” program, broadcasted on WTV channel and the Tabadul TV platform, that the executing Egyptian companies are among the largest companies in Egypt and Africa. He pointed out that the urban renaissance witnessed by Egypt in the recent period, including bridges and roads, is carried out by the same companies working on the implementation of the Third Ring Road.

He explained that the Coalition of Egyptian Companies executing the project includes the companies of Hassan Allam Holding, Orascom Construction, Rowad Modern Engineering, and Neom Real estate Development. These are four of the largest Egyptian companies in this field, operating both within and outside Egypt, having executed several projects in the Gulf countries and several African countries similar to the Third Ring Road project.

Abdul Mohsen said, “We, in the Coalition of Egyptian Companies, work with utmost seriousness according to the timeline. The actual start of the project was on August 20 of the past year, and the last three months were a period of preparations to provide equipment and labor, preparing the project site. Despite that, we started working in all available and equipped areas of the project without obstacles, and we are currently working in them.”

The Government of National Unity had contracted with the Coalition of Egyptian Companies to implement the Third Ring Road project, a dual carriageway in the capital, Tripoli, with a length of approximately 24 kilometers. It connects the west and south of the capital, from Janzour and Ghout Al-Shaal to Mitiga Airport, Souk Al-Jumaa, and Al-Shatt Road, at a cost exceeding 3.7 billion dinars.

Al-Manfi Emphasizes the Importance of Financial Prudence and Fair Distribution During Meeting with Shakshak

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During a meeting with the head of the Audit Bureau, Khaled Shakshak, on Sunday, the President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Manfi, discussed ways to enhance the role of the Audit Bureau to achieve planned and effective oversight of public funds.

Al-Manfi stressed the importance of monitoring public spending in accordance with the principles of financial prudence and fair distribution.