SNE Special Projects have operated within Libya since the revolution of 2011 and are a fully licensed security provider working with our Libyan partner company. We have kept our permanent British & Libyan Country Management Team in Tripoli throughout the last few difficult months, supporting our clients staff and critical infrastructure and offering up to date, regular and accurate reporting throughout this period. We are now in a strong position to advise and support our clients as they look to plan their re-entry back into Libya as and when the current situation stabilises and allows for remobilization. We have a vast amount of experience of supporting clients from the media, telecoms, power generation & NGO sectors. For more information on our services within Libya visit our website www.snespecialprojects.com or please email us at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk
SNE Libya Security Summary
Both the House of Representatives (HoR) and the General National Congress have agreed to turn up on Thursday 04 March to the next round of the UN-brokered dialogue process, to be held in Morocco. The HoR, which had pulled out of the process a week ago following the bombings in Guba, performed its U-turn following talks in Tobruk between members of its dialogue committee and UN Special Envoy to Libya Bernadino Leon.
Retired General Khalifa Hafter has been appointed as Commander General of the Libyan National Army (LNA) by House of Representatives (HoR) President Ageela Saleh Gwaider. He has also been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General. It’s our understanding that the appointment of Hafter has been made unilaterally by HoR President Ageela Saleh Gwaider within what he sees as his powers as Supreme Commander of the Libyan National Army.
Throughout the last week the eastern based House of Representatives (HoR) have been making bold statements aimed at the United Nations and namely Britain and the United States referring to their accused alignment with the Western based National Salvation Government (NSG). These statements were quickly rejected by both British and US representations and indeed have no foundation as these governments have attempted to stay neutral throughout this last period and actually the British and US embassies have made it clear on several occasions that if anything they do still recognize the HoR as the legitimate government of Libya.
Within the west of Libya, fighting has continued between Libya Dawn aligned militias and Operation Dignity forces, largely now calling themselves the Libyan National Army (LNA). Mystery surrounds reports that a Libyan jet fighter plane was shot down and crashed on Sunday just near the border with Tunisia. The Tunisian news agency TAP has quoted an unnamed senior Tunisian security official saying that a plane belonging to Libya Dawn crashed just five kilometer’s inside Libya, adding that it may have been shot down by the Libyan National Army, this is still to be confirmed.
Tripoli its self again has remained mainly calm, however regular skirmishes have taken place around the Fashloum areas where there is a large and strong anti-Libya Dawn movement. Within the last week Tripoli has continued to witness criminal and vandal activities towards ancient and historical sites, in itself these acts have persisted following the 2011 revolution. There has certainly been an increase in opportunist theft and namely vehicle armed jacking’s within the capital, certainly within the last couple of weeks. In a very high profile incident, a female activist and well known blogger was found shot dead in her vehicle along with her aunt in an area of Tripoli.
Continued reports and media broadcasts have emerged from the central location of Sirte by ‘Daesh’, it is believed that Daesh controlling a number of government buildings including that of the visa office.
Within the east of Libya, fighting has continued between the LNA and extremist fighters belomging to Ansar Al Sharia, although fighting does persist around the western areas of the city reports again have emerged that the LNA has now regained the main sea port and even reports that the Benina Int Airport will be surveyed for re-opening at some point in the near future.
Within the far eastern location of Derna which is under the control of Daesh, reports have emerged that on the 1st March that Daesh fighters have moved location to the western mountain area of Ras Al Hilal. The move was an apparent reaction to an announcement by the Italian government that military will be conducting a large military exercise around the Mediterranean within close proximity to the Libyan coastline.
Due to the current ongoing unstable and unpredictable security situation within Libya, SNE are recommending that at this moment in time clients only carry out business essential travel trips to Libya, these trips should only be undertaken within Tripoli city limits and no movement should be attempted in the hours of darkness or near certain flash point areas such as Tripoli International Airport and surroundings districts, GNC buildings and hotels known to be frequented by internationals which could prove to be flash points for further incidents.
Due to the attack on the Corinthia hotel in Tripoli on the 27 January, hotels in Tripoli are now being looked at again from a security perspective and for the time being we recommend only using safe accommodation which has been authorised for use.
Locally employed client staff within Libya should continually practice extra vigilance and caution regarding their personal security, in addition anything classed as suspicious should be reported to the SNE Security Tripoli Operations Manager at the first opportunity.
We are advising No movement to the western area of Libya in and around Kikla and Rujban and other surrounding areas where fighting is still ongoing between the Zintan and Libya Dawn militia groups. Sporadic fighting between rival tribal factions is also currently ongoing in the areas of Ubari, Sabha & Murzuq and we are advising our clients Not to travel to these southern areas at present.
We are still presently advising NO travel should be made to Benghazi until the current situation shows signs of stability and Operation Dignity forces have full control of the city and transportation methods of entering and leaving Benghazi are open again.
SNE are supporting our clients at present in Tripoli with business essential travel visits and are offering a full turnkey security risk management, safe transportation with secure accommodation and life support package based from our Tripoli villa.
The British FCO and US State Department are still advising against travel to Libya and are monitoring the security and political situation before considering remobilisation plans back into Libya.
SNE remains fully operational on the ground within Tripoli, where our British Country Management Team are able to support any of our existing and additional clients requests and provide up to date accurate information and analysis on the ever changing situation to those clients who are currently out of country monitoring the situation with an aim to re-deploying when the security and political situation allows.
Before considering travel to Libya, an itinerary specific pre-travel risk assessment including mitigation measures are recommended. In-country personnel should be confident in their evacuation procedures and crisis management plans and in light of the current situation these should be checked and updated where necessary with the appropriate level of support in country to activate the plans when required.
To discuss further how SNE can support your projects in Libya please contact us by email at specialprojects@snegroup.co.uk or call our Dubai office on +971 44561542 / +971 503786803