Overview

This week has been marked with sustained unrest in Tripoli focused around the General National Congress (GNC) building with violence and intimidation being aimed at its members. The period has seen the end of the forced occupation by wounded Thuwars of the National Assembly chamber but immediately followed by those seeking to force through the bill on political isolation for former Gadaffi officials and loyalists.

The debates over the bill have been chaotic and marked by violence. It became so bad that Mohamed Magarief’s, (Libya’s interim leader and speaker of the GNC) car was fired upon by proponents of the bill. He was unhurt. This was the same day that a number of GNC (General National Council) members were held hostage for all of the day by armed demonstrators who again were demonstrating in support of the political isolation bill.

This has led to Magarief deciding to suspend full sessions of the GNC stating that they would not allow themselves to be intimidated and pressured by armed demonstrators into decisions. Since then the Ministry of the Interior has announced that it will take control of the security of the GNC.

Separately it has been announced that the Joint Security Force in Tripoli will be conducting a sweep and raids in the outskirts particularly in the west of the city to root out criminal gangs and armed gangs. This has created friction with the Tripoli Militia and revolutionaries who claim to be part of the continuing security of the city and therefore must be consulted and engaged in any such operations. This is yet another illustration of the chaotically dangerous nature of Libya’s security apparatus that requires serious and urgent security sector reform.

Of wider concern also this week was the statement to Congress by General Carter Ham, Commander US Africa Command based in Stuggart, that the buyback programme for shoulder launched surface to air missiles (MANPADS) had had only limited success and that 1000s remained unaccounted for following the fall of Gadaffi and his regime.

The pattern of lawlessness across the country continues and whilst it is not endemic it is a cause for concern the longer it is allowed to continue. The root cause needing to be addressed is Security Sector Reform with the disarmament of militias and other armed groups to form a structure of well-trained and led state security forces being desperately required. This is not a short-term fix but something that will take a number of years to craft once the government is in a position to enforce its authority. The worry is that without significant support it will be unable to do so and to enforce its will must turn to the militias for support – the very constituency it is seeking to dismantle.

Tripolitania and Tripoli

Part of the EU project to improve Libya’s border security came into place this week with the announcement that Tripoli airport border controls are now linked to Interpol. Although this is but one piece of the border security problem it is a positive one in terms of monitoring those coming in and out of Libya through Tripoli by air. This is against a backdrop that saw the Wazen-Dahiba border crossing linking Libya and Tunisia being closed on Sunday evening following clashes between a group of Tunisian traders and Libyans over petrol and its smuggling. On Thursday armed men stormed the offices of Al-Assama TV network in Tripoli and smashed equipment and abducted staff, who less 2, were later released. The network has a political affiliation to Mahmoud Shammam. The chairman of Alassema TV station, Juma Osta, and its former manager, Nabil Shebani, who were continuing to be held were released the next day.

The gas exports to Italy from Mellitah have still not resumed contrary to previous reports. The Petroleum Facilities Guard remains undermanned and poorly trained and this state of affairs is not being helped by using militia manpower to supplement it. This is a sector-wide issue and again draws attention to the need for urgent reform of the security sector.

An uneasy peace reigns in Mizdah, following on from last week’s sustained clashes and tribal violence between Mashahia and Qantrar tribes. The ICRC has been delivering aid to the area with the Libyan Red Crescent which has displaced more than 3,000 people.

Gulf of Sidra, Cyrenaica and Benghazi

A large nail bomb was found at Sirte hospital on Wednesday. It is thought that this was an attempt to assassinate the commander of the Qardabiya Martyrs Unit guarding the hospital, Makhlouf Ben Nasser Ferjani. Fortunately it was successfully defused.

Also on Wednesday the Benghazi council headquarters was stormed by youths this week demanding financial recompense for having provided security across the City during the 17 February anniversary celebrations. The authorities are unlikely and unwilling to accept their demands but again it points to the lawless nature of the city. And it is no surprise that the no travel warning to Benghazi remains in place for all westerners from their governments.

As part of attempts to lessen the border congestion it was announced that Libya and Egypt were to open consulates across the joint border at Mersa Matruh and Tobruk respectively. This should speed up the visa process for those two nationalities that make up the lion’s share of the border traffic considerably.