European Union Discusses Ways to Monitor Libyan Borders

Head of the EUBAM Natalina Cea meets with Libyan military officials. (Twitter)
Head of the EUBAM Natalina Cea meets with Libyan military officials. (Twitter)
TT
20

European Union Discusses Ways to Monitor Libyan Borders

Head of the EUBAM Natalina Cea meets with Libyan military officials. (Twitter)
Head of the EUBAM Natalina Cea meets with Libyan military officials. (Twitter)

The European Union Border Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) discussed with military officials in the country ways to secure the borders.

Head of the EUBAM Natalina Cea said she discussed joint cooperation in monitoring and securing the border.

Illegal migration and organized crime are challenges across Libya’s vast borders.

Cea and Commander of the Border Guard Training Center Brigadier General Fawzi Al-Fiqi visited the center, which is being renovated by EUBAM.

Meanwhile, the Specialized Training Institute of the General Directorate of Security Operations of the Government of National Unity (GNU) concluded the first training course in the field of “Collection, Analysis and Exchange of Information”.

Libya’s Interior Ministry said the course is part of efforts to raise the efficiency of border guards and officers from other units under the General Directorate of Security Operations.

Meanwhile, head of the GNU Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah met on Saturday with Minister of Transportation Mohammed Al-Shahoubi and various officials and airlines' representatives.

The meeting focused on obstacles in the aviation sector, said a statement from Dbeibah’s office. The minister welcomed Dbeibah’s interest in improving the sector.

Shahoubi explained that 15 Libyan Airlines and eight Afriqiyah Airways planes were completely destroyed during past wars, while more than 14 planes need maintenance.

He also said a number of administrative and technical problems are hindering their return to the fleet.



UN Calls for 'Immediate Deescalation' in Libyan Capital

Man waving the Libyan flag - File Photo/AFP
Man waving the Libyan flag - File Photo/AFP
TT
20

UN Calls for 'Immediate Deescalation' in Libyan Capital

Man waving the Libyan flag - File Photo/AFP
Man waving the Libyan flag - File Photo/AFP

The UN mission in Libya called for "immediate deescalation", citing reports of armed forces being mobilized in the capital and its surroundings that have raised fears of renewed violence.

In mid-May, there were clashes in Tripoli between forces loyal to the government and powerful armed groups wanting to dismantle it.

In a statement published late on Wednesday on X, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said there were "increased reports of continued military build-up in and around Tripoli", AFP reported.

It said it "strongly urges all parties to refrain from using force, particularly in densely populated areas, and to avoid any actions or political rhetoric that could trigger escalation or lead to renewed clashes".

It called for all parties to "engage in good faith" in deescalation and for the "swift implementation of security arrangements" set out during efforts to end the May violence.

Those clashes left six people dead, the United Nations said.

"Forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw without delay," UNSMIL said.

Libya has been gripped by conflict since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising.

The country remains split between Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah's UN-recognized government based in Tripoli and a rival administration based in the east.

In a TV interview on Monday, Dbeibah called for armed groups to vacate the areas under their control.

Among the sites held by armed factions are the Mitiga airport in the east of the capital, which is controlled by the powerful Radaa Force.

"Dialogue -- not violence -- remains the only viable path toward achieving lasting peace, stability in Tripoli and across Libya", the UNSMIL statement said.