Ottobre 2017 – Pagina 21 – European Affairs Magazine

Libya needs to lift ban on arms for better coastguards’ performance, Al-Sirraj tells EU officials

Published on 4 Ottobre 2017 in AFRICA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by pressrelease

The Head of the Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sirraj, has received in Tripoli Tuesday the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Libya, Bettina Muscheidt, the Commander of EU Operation Sophia, Admiral Credendino, and the defense advisor for the Delegation of the European Union to Libya, in the presence of the Coast Guard Commander Abdelhamid Tumiya, and the head of the general directorate of the coast security Colonel Tariq Shanbour, as well as other officials. They all discussed counter-illegal immigration efforts, including the training of Libyan coastguards and border guards to fight away the human trafficking networks and gangs, in addition to the cooperation in information sharing. Al-Sirraj reiterated in the meeting the need for lifting the ban on arming the coastguards in order to help them fight the human trafficking gangs, adding that he looked forward to having essential and vital counter-fuel smuggling efforts as his request was answered with appointing Operation Sophia for that task.

Khalifa Haftar: Libyan Army is launching legitimate war in Sabratha

Published on 4 Ottobre 2017 in AFRICA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by pressrelease

Renegade Libyan General, Khalifa Haftar, has declared that one of the warring groups in Sabratha is affiliated with his self-styled army, saying the ongoing fighting in the city is legitimate. In a statement to Italy’s AKI news agency, Haftar revealed that the ISIS Fighting Operation Room is launching a legitimate war against the terrorists and human smugglers and traffickers. The power-obsessed General also denied social media claims of his meeting with Commander of Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigade, Haitem Tajouri, in France, saying he rejects “the principle of sitting down with leaders of undisciplined groups”. The ISIS Fighting Operation Room is made up of former army officers. It’s backed by a Salafist militia group called “Wadi Brigade”, which is controlled by followers of Madkhali sect and owes allegiance to Khalifa Haftar’s Dignity Operation. Dignity Operation spokesperson, Ahmed Al-Mismari, told Sky News Arabia TV on Sunday that the ISIS Fighting Operation Room and Wadi Salafist militia are their affiliates and they will continue the fighting until they eradicate the “terrorist groups” from Sabratha.

Study on perceptions of EU’s crisis response in Libya recommends security sector reform and non-contradictory policies

Published on 4 Ottobre 2017 in AFRICA/PRESS RELEASE/REGIONS by pressrelease

A study by EUNPACK, www.eunpack.eu authored by Chiara Loschi and Luca Raineri, on the perceptions of the EU’s crisis response in Libya has concluded that EU crisis response in Libya should pay greater attention to security sector reform (SSR) as a pillar of crisis response in Libya. It says that it is formed of a consortium of 13 researchers with a special competence on the EU and specialists on peace and conflict studies within different sectors and/or regions from Norway, UK, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Italy, Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Tunisia, Mali, Afghanistan and Iraq. Notably, Libya is not represented. The report, which discusses the perceptions of those who have been exposed to the EU’s responses to the crisis unfolding in Libya, also recommended that the EU should also avoid undermining the positive image of the its humanitarian commitment by its engagement in contradictory policies. The 16-page report concluded that within the EU’s approach to crisis management, it is crucial to consider the point of view of all stakeholders to ensure that the crisis response is in line with European commitments towards local ownership and conflict sensitivity.