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UN in Libya statement on “International Day for the elimination of sexual violence in conflict zones”

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The UN called on the authorities in Libya to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, particularly to ensure that all reports of sexual violence are promptly investigated and prosecuted, and survivors are provided with protection, reparations and holistic health and psychosocial services.

On this occasion, the UN family in Libya welcomed the announcement by the Supreme Judicial Council of the establishment of two dedicated courts addressing violence against women, men and children, a positive step that will contribute to the elimination of violence against women in Libya, including at places of detention, work, and at home. We call on the Judicial Authorities to implement the announcement.

To ensure better documentation of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, the UN said it will lead the creation of Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Arrangements on conflict-related sexual violence (MARA) in Libya in line with para. 8 of Security Council Resolution 1960 (2010).

The UN family in Libya also encouraged Libyan authorities to facilitate the release of all those arbitrarily detained and without a legal basis, in particular survivors of trafficking, torture and rape, and to introduce measures to protect female detainees from sexual and gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.

The UN urged the Government to adopt anti-trafficking legislation in accordance with international law, and to address the nexus of conflict-related sexual violence and trafficking in accordance with Security Council resolution 2331 (2016).

The UN claimed it stands ready to support the Libyan authorities in their quest to eradicate conflict-related sexual violence and encourages them to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its investigation of conflict-related sexual violence, the African Court on Humans and Peoples’ Rights and any other mechanism that might bring justice to victims and survivors.

Egypt readies army for intervention in Libya, declares Sirte and Jufra a red line

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Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, says his country has a legitimate right to intervene in neighbouring Libya and has ordered his army to be ready to carry out any mission outside the country, if necessary.

“Any direct intervention from the Egyptian state has now acquired international legitimacy,” Sisi told an audience after inspecting military units at an air base near the border with Libya.

He said Egypt has the right to defend itself after receiving “direct threats” from “terrorist militias and mercenaries” supported by foreign countries, in an apparent reference to some armed groups loyal to the GNA and supported by Turkey.

On Saturday Sisi said that Egypt has always been reluctant to intervene in Libya and wants a political solution to its conflict, but added that “the situation now is different”.

“If some people think that they can cross the Sirte-Jufra frontline, this is a red line for us,” he said before an audience that included some Libyan tribal leaders.


Turkey to provide Libya with a floating power station

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The Turkish ‘Daily Sabah’ on Friday, quoted an official of the Turkish company, Karadeniz Holding, as confirming its willingness to supply various regions of Libya with electricity, within 30 to 60 days.

The head of the energy trade group of the company, Zainab Harazi, explained the possibility of providing electricity supply to the electrical network of Libya by 1000 megawatts, as a short-term solution to the power outages.

This would be done by connecting floating power stations to the grid, of which Karadeniz Holding has 19, most of which serve the needs of 11 different countries.

Di Maio: “Italy wants sustainable cease-fire”

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Turkish and Italian foreign ministers met in the capital Ankara to discuss regional issues, including Libya and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as bilateral relations.

After the meeting, Cavusoglu and Luigi Di Maio held a press conference.

“We are aware of the critical role Italy has played. We thank them. They played a balanced role,” Cavusoglu said. 

He said Italy, unlike some EU countries, has not taken sides with the putschist Khalifa Haftar in Libya.

“Italy has made sincere efforts for a cease-fire and political process,” he said.

Cavusoglu said Turkey would like to see Italy on other platforms about Libya and this request has been conveyed to Russia and other countries.

‘Italy wants sustainable cease-fire’

Di Maio said Italy wants a sustainable cease-fire in Libya.

“Libya should no longer be a security threat to Europe and Italy. For this, a political solution must be found,” he said. 

Referring to the territorial integrity of Libya, Di Maio said it should not be led to armed conflicts that will cause divisions in the country. 

“So the special representative of the UN secretary-general should be appointed as soon as possible,” he said. 

Bloomberg: Oil Blockade Will affect the Libyan Dinar

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Libya’s crude exports have fallen by more than a million barrels a day since Haftar shut down the biggest oil ports in January to pressure the Sarraj government, according to a report published by Bloomberg.

Proceeds normally go through the National Oil Corporation (NOC) to the Tripoli-based central bank, but Haftar wants the regulator to allocate more funds to the east—an unresolved dispute at the heart of Libya’s divisions.

While Haftar’s efforts to export crude independently of the NOC have been thwarted, repeated disruptions have roiled global oil markets and deprived the economy of its main source of dollars.

That’s again hitting the currency. A year ago, the U.S. dollar was worth roughly 4.5 dinars on the black market. Now, it’s closer to 5.5 dinars.

Turkey ready for fast reconstruction in conflict-torn Libya

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Turkey is ready to rapidly start rebuilding conflict-torn Libya, a senior Turkish official said on Friday, after President Tayyip Erdogan’s senior deputies visited Tripoli this week to discuss cooperation on energy, construction and banking.

Turkish support has helped the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) reverse a 14-month assault on Tripoli by Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) that is backed by Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

A Turkish delegation including the foreign and finance ministers met GNA officials on Wednesday for talks Ankara said aimed to bring about an end to fighting.

They also discussed payments owed to Turkish companies for past energy and construction work in Libya, the official told Reuters, requesting anonymity.

The Turkish and GNA officials discussed how Turkey could help in energy exploration and operations, including cooperation “on every imaginable project” to help resources reach global markets, the senior official said.

“Many parts of the country are in debris, there is a serious need for infrastructure and superstructure. Turkish companies … are in a position to rapidly begin such work,” the official said.

Before Turkey officially threw its support behind the GNA in November last year, Turkish builders had worked on projects in Libya. The backlog of Turkish contract work in Libya amounts to $16 billion, including $400-500 million for projects which have not yet begun, a sector official said in January.

UNSMIL expresses its dismay regarding the detention of Khalid Sakran

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The United Nations Support Mission in Libyan (UNSMIL) on Thursday called for the release of a Libyan activist in the eastern city of Benghazi.

“UNSMIL expresses its dismay regarding the ongoing arrest and detention in Benghazi for the past week of Mr. Khalid Sakran apparently on account of his peace activism,” UNSMIL tweeted.

“Under international law, Mr. Sakran has the right to liberty and security of person, to be promptly informed of any charges against him and to be brought before a judge, failing which he should be immediately released,” UNSMIL said.

Al-Sakran was among a group of activists from the eastern region who announced a peace initiative last January calling for the halting of war in Libya.

Arab League plans urgent meeting on Libya

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The Arab League on Friday announced plans to hold an urgent virtual foreign ministers meeting to discuss the escalating conflict in Libya.


The meeting, to be held at Egypt’s request via video conference, comes as fighting continues between rival administrations based in Libya’s capital and the west.


“Coordination is currently underway with the current session’s head (the Sultanate of Oman) to determine the meeting’s date, which is expected to be next week,” said Arab League deputy head Hossam Zaki.