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Mercenaries and foreign fighters to exit from Libyan territory

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 The two delegations of Libya’s 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee concluded on Thursday their two-day talks in Sirte as they reached an agreement on a number of agreements related to the ceasefire deal made in Geneva in October 23.

The committee’s official concluding statement included several stages. The first stage includes the beginning of clearing the coastal road with a distance that allows safe passage for citizens, in addition to expelling all mercenaries and foreign fighters from the targeted area by opening the coastal road and gathering them in Tripoli and Benghazi to start in the next stage of their departure from Libyan territories.

The 5 + 5 Joint Military Committee mandated a sub-committee to withdraw vehicles and heavy weapons from the targeted area by opening the coastal road and bringing forces to their units in coordination with the Security Arrangements Committee to secure the area after its evacuation from the military forces.

As far as the second stage is concerned, it included the exit of mercenaries and foreign fighters from the area of ​​all contact lines and their withdrawal to Benghazi and Tripoli, as a first step to start the process of their departure from the Libyan territories.

Regarding security arrangements in the targeted area, the Joint Military Committee decided to approve joint security arrangements for the entire area of ​​contact lines that have been identified by the 5 + 5 Committee, in addition to adopting urgent security arrangements that allow opening the coastal road and facilitating traffic.

Libya shipwreck: At least 74 migrants killed

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At least 74 migrants have drowned after their Europe-bound ship capsized off the coast of Libya, the U.N.’s migration agency said, in the latest in a series of at least eight shipwrecks in the Central Mediterranean since last month.

The boat was carrying over 120 migrants, including women and children, when it capsized off the coast of the Libyan port of al-Khums Thursday, said the International Organization for Migration. Only 47 people were rescued by the Libyan coast guard and fishermen and brought to shore.

So far 31 bodies were retrieved as the search for the remaining victims continued, added the IOM.

Exclusive: the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum starts finding consensus

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Tabadul has obtained a copy of the roadmap named “the preparatory phase for a comprehensive solution“. The participants agreed to address the current political situation through resuming the political process that aims at holding presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

The document also covered the objectives of the roadmap, represented by strengthening political legitimacy through presidential and parliamentary elections on a constitutional basis, in addition to creating a new executive authority in order to provide the necessary conditions for the elections.

 The Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) kicked off on Monday 9 November 2020, under the auspices of the United Nations, in the Tunisian capital, after months of preparations and consultations with Libyans from all constituencies, especially youth, women and municipalities.

Williams says no final decisions have been taken

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The Acting Head of the UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams said that the participants of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which is being held in Tunisia, have reached an agreement on holding free, fair, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections, within 18 months.

Williams expressed the UNSMIL’s rejection of what she described as “disinformation and disruption campaigns” accompanying the meetings of the Forum and the meetings of the Joint Military Commission (JMC) in Sirte.

She also added that the agreement includes steps to unite institutions and to return displaced people.

The Acting Head of the UN mission in Libya pointed out that the Military Sub-Committee emanating from the JMC, that concerned with the withdrawal of forces from the frontlines, will present their proposals to the JMC on Thursday, stressing that the JMC is continuing its discussions, clarifying that it has made progress on the ceasefire agreement.

“The discussions of the Political Dialogue in Tunisia will address on Thursday, the prerogatives and competencies of the new unified transitional government”, she explained, confirming that no final decisions have been taken.

Libyan Supreme Judicial Council unsatisfied with judicial power-sharing

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The Libyan Supreme Judicial Council reiterated that the judicial authority should be fully autonomous as per the legislations organizing its work, excluding Article 15 of the Libyan Political Agreement.

The council issued this statement on Wednesday about the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Tunisia, referring to the previous statement about political dialogues that adopted quotas system for judiciary posts, saying it rejects such a system.

The council said it won’t sit idly by and watch the ongoing judicial power-sharing as per illegal criteria.

 For his part, the legal expert Taha Baara confirmed in a statement to Sada Economic Newspaper that he supports the Council’s statement

“The independence of the Libyan Supreme Judicial Council must be a pillar of any civilized political agreement. It should be completely excluded from any power-sharing agreement which is referred to in Article 15 of the Skhirat Agreement.” He said.

Tunisia opens land borders with Libya

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The Libyan Airports Authority has announced that flights to and from Tunisia will be resumed starting November 14, after signing a health protocol.

The health protocol aims to facilitate the movement of travelers from Libya and Tunisia in both directions via land and air, adding that the protocol includes precautionary anti-coronavirus measures like wearing masks and ensuring social distance.

The air and land borders between the two countries were earlier closed to passenger traffic amid the coronavirus epidemic, and the exchange of goods proceeded mainly by sea.

UNSMIL statement on the killing of lawyer Hanan Al-Barassi

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UNSMIL stated it strongly condemns the killing of lawyer Hanan al-Barassi, who was shot today, in broad daylight, in Benghazi by unidentified armed men.

Ms. al-Barassi had been a vocal critic of corruption, abuse of power and human rights violations. Her tragic death illustrates the threats faced by Libyan women as they dare to speak out.

UNSMIL said it takes note of the decision by relevant authorities in the East to initiate a prompt and thorough investigation into her death. The Mission also calls for the perpetrators to be promptly brought to justice.

Prominent activist killed in eastern Libya

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46 years-old lawyer Hanan Al-Barasi, a Libyan activist was shot dead in her car by unknown gunmen in 20 Street in Benghazi, according to a statement by authorities in eastern Libya.

US Embassy in Libya

The Embassy of the United States in Libya expressed Tuesday its total shock and deep concern over the killing of a Libyan lawyer, Hanan Al-Barasi in Benghazi.

The Embassy said in a brief statement that silencing the voices of peaceful activists should not be tolerated and we reiterate our strong commitment to allowing all Libyans, including women and youth, to have a voice in their country’s future.

The Embassy urged the Libyan authorities to investigate thoroughly this dreadful murder and bring all those responsible to face justice.

Germany’s ambassador to Libya:

Similarly, Germany’s ambassador to Libya, Oliver Owcza, condemned the killing and stressed that “perpetrators must be held accountable”.

“Shocked and appalled by today’s cowardly murder of Hanan El Barasi in an open street in Benghazi,” the German ambassador tweeted.

“Our thoughts are with her family & friends. Perpetrators must be held accountable. Strong voices like hers working for a peaceful future of Libya will keep guiding our cooperation!”

Amnesty International:

Amnesty International stated that the Libyan lawyer, Hanan Al-Barasi was assassinated merely one day after announcing her firm intention to publish a video regarding Saddam Haftar’s corruption.

In a statement, Amnesty condemned the assassination of Al-Barasi, saying that she had firmly and consistently criticized a number of known individuals associated with armed groups in the east of the country.

It added that Al-Barasi had received numerous threats, which included ‘death threats’ to both herself and her daughter, due to her outspoken criticisms.

“There is no possibility of building a clear economic vision in Libya”

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Keeping abreast with the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) held in Tunis, the lecturer and researcher in economics and political science at the University of Bremen, Germany, Mabruk Derbesh, said during a live broadcast for Libyan WTV channel and Tabadul Platform, that there is no possibility of building a clear economic vision.

According to him, the country’s cultural and political consciousness requires that any consensus candidate should come out with a Work Programme in order to get the country out of this crisis.

Derbesh said that the economic decisions and reforms that some people kept repeating are nothing but disruptive reforms and executive procedures, while wondering how to adjust the exchange rate without making prior reforms.

He also wondered how can the fuel subsidies be lifted without setting the exchange rate.

Derbesh also pointed out that the UN-backed candidates are indispensable for a specific political project. He also stressed the need to identify the candidates’ Work Programmes in order to assess the list of nominees.

Egypt to build a railway line to Libya’s Benghazi

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 Egypt’s transport minister, Kamal Al-Wazir, announced proposals to extend a railway line in the north to Libya’s Benghazi.

According to the Business Times, the announcement came as part of Egyptian government efforts to overhaul the country’s transport system, including an ailing railway network with a poor safety record.

The government decided on “a number of rail transportation projects that could be carried out in cooperation with investors,” Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir told a news conference in Cairo.