Features Headlines Libya

Libya: Can the New UNSMIL Chief heal divisions?

German veteran diplomat Martin Kobler who has been appointed few weeks ago Head of the UNSMIL and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Libya, in replacement of Spanish diplomat Bernardino Leon, is assuming office as of Tuesday, November 17. The new UNSMIL chief faces a daunting task in view of the large rifts […]

Features Headlines Libya

Libya: report disclaims killing of IS leader, IS threatens to Strike USA

Libyan reports based on sources from Derna Sunday rejected the US claims that an American F-15 fighter jet killed the IS leader in Libya, Abu Nabil Al-Anbari. Sources from the Libyan Eastern city pointed out that Abu Nabil Al-Anbari, aka Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi, was not killed in the strike and that the Iraqi-born […]

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Libya-UAE: Emirati arrested in Tripoli for spying

Tripoli Attorney General’s office announced Wednesday that an Emirati has been nabbed for spying for the United Arab Emirates in the aftermath of the Leon-gate which revealed that former UN mediator collided with the Emiratis against the Tripoli-based Libyan administration in the Libyan peace Dialogue Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, head of the Investigations Bureau at the Office […]

Headlines Libya

Libya: Two Serbian embassy staff abducted

The Serbian Foreign Ministry Sunday indicated that two staff of its embassy in Libya have been kidnapped west of the coastal city of Sabratha. The two abductees have been identified as ladjana Stankovic and Jovica Stepic respectively communication officer and driver of the embassy in Tripoli. A separate report indicated the Serbian ambassador Oliver Potezica […]

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Libya: Leon replaced by Kobler, oil payment dispute resurfaces

U.N Secretary General Ban Ki-moon confirmed on Wednesday that veteran German diplomat, Marti Kobler, who has more than 30 years of experience in senior positions in the German government and the UN, will replace Bernadino Leon as his Special Representative and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Kobler is to replace Leon […]

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Libya: militia kidnaps Tripoli cabinet minister, inter-militia rift widens

Armed men belonging to Revolutionaries of Tripoli, a militia group reportedly linked to the Interior Ministry of the Tripoli government, has kidnapped a member of this government, namely Mohamad al-Gaddar in charge of Planning. The security and defence commission of the General National Congress (GNC) strongly condemned the kidnapping on Tuesday and asked for the […]

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Libya: UNSMIL presses Libyan rival groups to form unity government

UN Support Mission in Libya reiterated its call Monday to Libyan rival groups in the political dialogue to give way to understanding and allow the country’s interest to prevail and accepted to expand the Presidential Council from 6 to 9 members. After numerous consultations with the main rival parties, the House of Representative (HoR) and […]

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Libya: Mysterious warplanes shell IS’s positions in Sirte

Unidentified warplanes carried air strikes on IS’s positions in the Libyan city of Sirte Thursday shortly after mid-night, witnesses said. The air-strikes the second this month targeted IS fighters’ positions in former ruler Muammar Gaddafi’s hometown. It is still unclear who was behind the military raid as neither Libya National Army (LNA,) its affiliated militias, […]

Headlines Libya

Libya-UN: German diplomat Kobler to replace Leon

German diplomat and former head of UN’s largest peace keeping mission in DR Congo Martin Kobler is set to replace Spanish diplomat Bernardino Leon as head of the UNSMIL struggling to clinch an accord between rival Libyans, UN Chief Ban Ki-Moon announced in a letter addressed Wednesday to the UN Security Council. After heading UN’s […]

Headlines Libya

Libya: Libyan army claims responsibility for downing Tripoli government’s helicopter

Libya National Army (LNA) has claimed responsibility for the downing of a helicopter belonging to the Tripoli government in which 15 people, including high ranking military officers of the rival army, have been reported dead. The helicopter was gunned down by the Libyan internationally recognised armed forces as it was flying over Maya, west of […]