First Independent Mena Newspaper
The humanitarian rescue ship Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, rescued 48 migrants on November 26 from a distressed boat off the Libyan coast. The majority of those saved were minors, a fact underscoring the vulnerability of the group. The rescue operation was initiated following a VHF radio alert from a NATO surveillance plane, which […]
Libya is seeking to address the pressing issues related to Libyan nationals detained in foreign prisons, with focus on their status and welfare. To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted in Tripoli, on Tuesday, a meeting that was attended by officials from the Ministry of Justice. The meeting reviewed detailed databases of cases […]
The African Union’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) has reasserted the relevance of the Skhirat and Bouznika processes to resolve the Libyan crisis. In a communiqué issued at the end of its 1244th meeting, held on November 12, the AU PSC reiterated that “the Skhirat Agreement, signed on December 17, 2015, resulting from the reconciliation […]
Libya has been elected to chair the International Olive Council (IOC), formerly the International Olive Oil Council, for a one-year term. The election took place during the 120th session of the IOC, held this week in Spain. Libya competed against Uruguay and Israel for the position. Iran, the outgoing chair, had sought an extension of […]
Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives (HoR), Aqila Saleh, announced on Wednesday, November 20, a further reduction in the tax on foreign currency transactions, lowering it to 15% from the previous 20%. This adjustment applies to all purposes and marks the second decrease in what is commonly referred to as the “dollar tax.” Last October, […]
Libya and Chad have formalized this week a Memorandum of understanding to regulate the movement and employment of Chadian workers in Libya. The MoU represents a key step in improving labor relations and legal frameworks for workforce movement between the two countries. According to the media office of Libya’s Ministry of Labor, the MoU is […]
In Libya, oil infrastructure is once again being used as leverage to pressure the Tripoli Government. On Tuesday, residents of Zintan shut down the oil valves in protest over the kidnapping last Wednesday of Brigadier General Mustafa al-Whayshi, the director of the Central Security Department within the intelligence service. His kidnappers have not yet come […]
Several Tunisian traders protested outside the Bengardane municipality headquarters, located near the Libyan border in southern Tunisia, to voice their frustration over the ongoing suspension of their primary commercial activities. The protestors are angry about the tightening of goods movement by Libyan authorities, which has severely disrupted cross-border trade. The protesters, many of whom identified […]
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has announced an extension of its flight ban over Libyan airspace, which will now remain in effect until the end of April 2025. This decision is based on “information available to EU members and institutions” and reflects EASA’s assessment that Libya’s airspace continues to pose significant safety risks […]
Libya’s interior ministry based in Tripoli sparked rights groups’ outcry when he unveiled a plan to install morality police that would enforce Hijab for women. The interior minister announced that patrols would start next month to ensure women wear “descent clothing,” prevent gender mixing in public spaces, and target young men with “strange” haircuts. He […]