Libya

Pakistan is mediating between Libya’s rival eastern and western power centers, supported by the US and Saudi Arabia. The effort follows Pakistan’s previous mediation between the US and Iran and involves defense ties with Libya’s eastern-based LNA, including potential arms sales despite a UN embargo. Qatar and Turkey, key supporters of Libya’s western GNU, encouraged Pakistan’s involvement.

Libyan authorities have used incendiary rhetoric and implemented mass detention and expulsions of migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees, leading to anti-migrant protests, according to Human Rights Watch.

The UAE and Khalifa Haftar's Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) are accused of continuing support for Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through training camps and logistical aid in Libya, despite denials from both parties. An investigation revealed RSF fighters trained in Libya using UAE-supplied weapons, with defectors confirming Emirati involvement in supply chains.

A covert network in eastern Libya is sustaining the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the ongoing war in Sudan, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) playing a central role in fueling the RSF through Libya.

A coalition of NGOs has requested the ICC investigate senior UAE and regional officials for allegedly aiding atrocities in Sudan's Darfur region. The submission accuses foreign actors of supplying arms, mercenaries, and logistical support to conflict parties, including the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces.

NAPTIP rescued 64 children in Ebonyi and reported others trafficked to Ghana and Libya. The agency urged landlords to require BVN, NIN, and workplace ID cards for tenants to combat human trafficking.

Four activists from the Gaza aid flotilla have been released from detention in Libya. The Global Sumud Flotilla group states six others remain in custody and are expected to be freed within 24 hours.

EU countries are considering establishing migrant return hubs in Rwanda and Uzbekistan for rejected asylum seekers, with over half of EU members pushing for swift action. The plan aims to operationalize the first hubs by 2027, following a new law requiring adherence to human rights standards, and involves investments in Rwanda and Uzbekistan through EU programs.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the release of two Italian pro-Palestinian activists detained in Libya for about a month. Israeli forces had arrested hundreds of Global Sumud Flotilla volunteers on international waters to block aid to the Gaza Strip.

Amnesty International criticizes the EU's migration cooperation with Libya, calling it xenophobic and racist. Chadian migrants were deported from Libya's Ministry of Interior’s Deportation Office.

A Libyan official was convicted for human rights violations at a detention facility in western Libya. He was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison for abuses including torture and degrading treatment. Italy deported him despite an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, prompting an ICC inquiry into the release.

A Libyan warlord has been convicted of human rights violations at a detention facility in western Libya. Officials reported the conviction related to abuses committed at the center.

A boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, resulting in 51 deaths or missing persons. The incident was reported by a monitoring group.

Canadian sniper rifles are being used in Yemen, Sudan, and Libya despite arms sanctions. The presence of these weapons in conflict zones raises concerns about enforcement of international restrictions.

Libya's political process is regaining momentum, but the UN envoy warns the window for action is narrowing. The country has faced political dysfunction since the collapse of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, leading to ongoing struggles over legitimacy and power.

Trump adviser Massad Boulos is advocating for a power-sharing plan to create a unified government in Libya, as reported by the Financial Times. The plan aims to address governance in the war-torn, oil-rich country.

Greece's migration minister, Thanos Plevris, defended stricter migration policies against human rights group criticism, calling it a 'badge of honor.' The government is cooperating with eastern Libya's authorities to curb migrant crossings, as arrivals in Crete from Libya have surged by over 20% compared to the previous year.

A decade after battles reduced the University of Benghazi to rubble, students are optimistic about the future. The university, Libya's oldest and largest, became a site of conflict between jihadist groups and forces led by Khalifa Haftar after the 2011 uprisings that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Nearly 70,000 students now attend classes in temporary facilities while a new campus is set to open in autumn.

The bulk carrier Grumant was observed at the occupied Ukrainian port of Feodosia, later delivering grain to Libya. Bellingcat used a new technique analyzing heading data from AIS information to track the ship, confirming its presence. This marks the second instance of a Russian ship transporting grain described as 'stolen' by Ukraine to Libya.

Gaza flotilla activists were detained in Benghazi, Libya. A demonstration with a sign reading 'do not touch the flotilla' occurred in Rome.

A 23-year-old female returnee from Libya, Endurance Daniel, recounted that she and other migrants drank their urine to survive due to lack of water in the desert, as reported by Vanguard.

Oil prices surged to a 29-month high as tensions between the US and Iran over potential military strikes threatened a fragile truce. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi pledged to crush an uprising, contributing to market volatility.

Nearly three years after a catastrophic 2023 flood in Derna, eastern Libya, the city is recovering but still traumatized, with nearly 4,000 deaths reported. Reconstruction efforts are providing hope for residents coping with the disaster.

Italian rescuers recovered 10 bodies after a migrant boat capsized off Malta. The vessel, which departed from Libya with about 60 passengers, overturned approximately 45 nautical miles east-southeast of Malta, with 48 people rescued alive.

The United Nations expressed deep concern over violent protests outside its offices in Libya, attributing the unrest to social media-fueled disinformation about its work in the country. Demonstrators in Tripoli blocked the UNHCR office, protesting against migrants traveling to Libya.

The United Nations has warned that weapons looted during the 2011 conflict in Libya have resurfaced in the hands of extremist groups in Nigeria and the wider Sahel region, contributing to insecurity in West Africa.

Hundreds of protesters in Libya accused a UN agency of settling undocumented migrants in the country, a claim the agency denies. The demonstration occurred outside the UN's offices, highlighting tensions over migration policies.

Iran's government has begun reconnecting to the global internet after an 88-day outage triggered by a national security policy following attacks from the USA and Israel. Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref announced the first step toward regulated internet access, with traffic resuming as reported by NetBlocks and Cloudflare. Analysts note Iran's use of a tiered internet system and ongoing content filtering, while the government cited security reasons for past blocks.

Italian stocks reached a 26-year record high, driven by energy and semiconductor sectors. Major energy companies like Eni SpA, Chevron Corp., QatarEnergy, and Repsol SA secured oil and gas exploration rights in Libya.

Libya and Syria have deployed military forces to Turkey's EFES-2026 exercise in historic first-time participations on foreign soil. The exercise involved over 10,000 personnel from 50 nations and marked the first joint deployment of Libya's rival eastern and western factions under a single flag. Syria's participation represents its newly reconstituted army's first exercise outside its territory.

Activists organized a land convoy traveling from Libya to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to the region. The convoy represents a grassroots effort to support the Palestinian population amid ongoing conflict.

A former Libyan militia commander, Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, will appear at the International Criminal Court for a hearing on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The prosecution is a landmark step towards justice for abuses of refugees trying to reach Europe from Africa. The ICC's investigation into crimes in Libya began after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Migrants on board Sea-Watch 5 feared for their lives as Libyan gunmen fired on the rescue ship. The Libyan coastguard threatened those on board, and the NGO ship's captain is under investigation. The incident involved the Libyan coastguard and the Sea-Watch 5 crew.

The Soumoud 2 land convoy is preparing to leave Libya to bring aid to Gaza. The convoy aims to provide assistance to those in need in the Gaza region. The departure from Libya marks the beginning of the convoy's journey to Gaza.

Libya's Zawiya refinery has resumed full operations after a two-day closure due to fighting near the facility. The refinery is located 40km west of Tripoli. Operations have now returned to normal.

Libya's largest oil refinery, Zawiya refinery, has halted operations due to fighting in the area, with explosions and gunfire reported nearby, prompting an emergency declaration. The shutdown is a precautionary measure. This incident may impact Libya's oil production.

Spain's Civil Guard seized a record amount of cocaine, between 30,000 and 45,000kg, on a freighter headed to Libya in the Atlantic Ocean. The seizure is a significant blow to drug trafficking operations. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the operation.

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) clashed with MS NOW host Katy Tur over the Trump administration's Iran war strategy, accusing her of promoting leftist talking points. Lawler defended the war as a 'just war' to prevent Iran's nuclear weapons, while Tur questioned its justification and effectiveness. The exchange included references to Obama's Libya conflict and criticism of Trump's foreign policy.

Libya's potential increase in oil production could stabilize global energy markets by restoring confidence and lowering prices. The article highlights ongoing tensions with Iran as a concurrent geopolitical factor.

Libya has approved its first unified budget in over a decade, marking a significant step toward political cohesion. The central bank praised the achievement as evidence of Libya's ability to overcome internal differences.