Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Queueing up outside banks in Tripoli, Libyans say they have little hope of an end to the political and economic turmoil shaking their country, on the eve of international crisis talks in Italy. Accompanied by his five-year-old son, architect Mohamad Kredigh was hoping to get …
Read More »Libya in chaos since 2011 overthrow of Kadhafi
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias still vying for control of the oil-rich country. The capital Tripoli is the seat of an internationally-backed government led …
Read More »Libya conference in early 2019 could pave way to elections: UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | A national conference will be held in Libya in the first weeks of 2019 to push for elections that could take place next year, the UN envoy told the Security Council on Thursday. UN envoy Ghassan Salame said the conference will provide “a …
Read More »Libya’s south falls prey to foreign armed groups
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Neglected by rival authorities in Tripoli and the country’s east, Libya’s southern desert has increasingly become a hideout for foreign rebel groups that stand accused of stoking growing insecurity. “Kidnapping, theft and banditry have multiplied” in the region, said Ali Akri Molia, commander of a …
Read More »Haftar forces capture top Egypt jihadist in Libya
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | Forces of Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar on Monday captured one of Egypt’s most-wanted jihadists in the east of the chaos-ridden country, a spokesman said. “The command of Arab Libyan forces announces the arrest of Egyptian terrorist Hisham el-Ashmawy at dawn on Monday, during a security …
Read More »Suicide bomber kills at least two in east Libya
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | A suicide bomber on Tuesday attacked a checkpoint in eastern Libya held by militiamen loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar, killing at least two people including a civilian, a senior security official said. The attacker also killed a fighter from Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) …
Read More »Libyan coastguard prevents NGO boat from rescuing migrants: AFP
ON BOARD THE AQUARIUS, Undefined | AFP | The Libyan coastguard on Sunday prevented a rescue ship belonging to two NGOs from approaching a boat in distress carrying migrants, an AFP photographer witnessed. The Aquarius, chartered by SOS-Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), was informed by the Italian coastguard of …
Read More »Libya in chaos since overthrow of Kadhafi
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya, where rival authorities and numerous militias are vying for power, fell into chaos after the ouster of strongman Moamer Kadhafi in October 2011. – Kadhafi killed – Kadhafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, is killed on October 20, 2011, as he tries to …
Read More »11 migrants dead, 263 rescued off Libya coast: navy
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | At least eleven migrants died at sea and another 263 were rescued on Sunday in two separate operations off the coast of Libya, the country’s navy said. In the first operation, “a coastguard patrol… was able to rescue 83 illegal migrants and recovered 11 bodies …
Read More »Oil theft ‘costing Libya over $750 mn annually’
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Fuel smuggling is costing Libya more than $750 million each year and harming its economy and society, the head of the National Oil Company in the conflict-riddled country said. “The impact of fuel smuggling is destroying the fabric of the country,” NOC president Mustafa Sanalla …
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