NEWS FRM LIBYA 7.10.2017

NEWS FROM LIBYA 7.1.2018

Tensions remain high in southern Tripoli following recent clashes.

Clashes in Sabratah appear to be approaching an end. However, the AIOR supported by the LNA could decide to pursue retreating troops and take control of more territory.

A large IS attack in Misrata is likely to elicit a strong response from Misratan militia groups against IS locations. The incident also demonstrates current IS capabilities and intent to target iconic targets with CPX attacks.

Tensions remain elevated along the Zuwara, Sabratah and Zawiyah coastal areas due to a number of issues including a complex security environment involving fuel smuggling and people trafficking.

Medium to long term outlook

The unveiling of a UN sponsored action plan, aimed at resolving the crisis in Libya, is expected to see long term changes in the political and security landscape in the country. Efforts will be made to return all stakeholders to the discussions and push forward a national political constitution. Presidential and Parliamentary elections will be prepared for late-2018.

GNA President Serraj and LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar, remain central to international stakeholders’ attempts to unify east and west. However, alternative solutions are being pursued by other entities with opposing factions. As factions move closer to a possible deal, tensions are likely to increase inside Libya, and there is potential for some level of fragmentation of their support bases. As a result, new alliances may be formed as progress leaves some with reducing levels of influence.

The remnants of the GNC, which has allegedly benefited from Qatari support, remain politically isolated after losing their footprint in the capital at the end of May. Their last attempt to take territory in the capital by force failed when their fighters were forced from Garabuli on July 11, and support appears to be waning. The threat is assessed to be evolving as the GNC, and associated forces adapt to the changing environment. While intent is assessed to remain, especially for the hardliners, tactics may alter.

There are indications that IS is beginning to regroup in Libya. Some reports suggest fighters from Iraq and Syria are heading to North Africa. The group is reported to be present in some areas south of Sirte, Bani Waled, and Sabratah.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Governance

Stage one of LPD meetings in Tunis, aimed at agreeing amendments to the LPA, have concluded. The amendments will now be discussed within the HoR and HCS before the committees return in a week from now to begin stage two.

Basit Igtet has responded to allegations that he is closely linked to extremist groups by stating that he does not belong to any particular party. He espouses a moderate Muslim approach and pledges to restore the Libyan identity.

Airport security measures at Matiga Airport in Tripoli are currently high. International staff passing through the airport has been asked to show additional identification cards and handover mobile phones for examination.

Security

IS militants launched a complex attack on the Misrata Courts Complex on October 04 involving IEDs and SAF. Four people were killed and around 40 wounded. A VBIED was used in the attack but it did not detonate.

Two elders involved in the national reconciliation process have been shot and killed as they were driving from Mizdah to Bani Waleed. The attacks caused outrage in several areas of the country.

Heavy fighting has continued in Sabratah this week. The LNA has provided support to the Anti-IS Operations Room and, at time of writing, it appears that the group has taken complete control of Sabratah city.

Clashes occurred in Tripoli between Nawasi Bde and Tripoli Revolutionaries’ Brigade (TRB) forces. The situation appears to be resolved in the short term but clashes could reignite in the future.

Basit Igtet has arranged further demonstrations, including another protest in Martyrs’ Square, Tripoli on October 20.

Clashes occurred in southern Tripoli (mainly Qaser Bin Ghashir) involving TRB with al-Kani fighters against a group associated with the former regime.

A vehicle, carrying medical supplies for the International Committee of the Red Cross, was hijacked traveling through Zawiyah towards Sabratah. The vehicle was stolen and the driver assaulted.

Officials in Sabha have threated to close down the Sharara and El Feel oilfields and the GMMR if fuel supplies are not delivered to the area by the weekend.

Benghazi Port officially reopened on October 01.

Oil and gas

Sharara oilfield closed this week following demands from an armed group, involved in guarding the site. The site resumed production on October 04.

The head of the National Oil Corporation has called for the criminalization of groups that disrupt oil production by blocking sites or turning off pipelines.

AMBASSADOR OF ITALY IN LIBYA - interview

Libya. Interview to the Italian Ambassador in Tripoli Giuseppe Perrone, 'the need to de-personalize' policy. Salamè? He has a right approach'

October 5, 2017

Giuseppe Perrone.

edited by Vanessa Tomassini for notizie geopolitiche -

The situation in Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, is extremely rugged and complex, from all points of view. The first factor that explains its complexity, from a geographical point of view, is the extension of its area, so vast as to make it the fourth African country and the eighteenth in the world for physical dimensions. During its history it has always been considered a single region, but has repeatedly seen the existence of two major territories, Tripolitania and Cyrenaica, with different cultures and ideologies completely opposed soventemente. But the invaders, colonizers and dictators, that have occurred over the centuries, have always found it convenient to consider it as one entity. Former Italic colony overlooking the Mediterranean around the Gulf of Sidra, between the tenth and twenty-fifth meridian east. From the political point of view the country is divided into two governments: the Presidential Council of Tripoli, recognized by the international community and headed by Fayez al-Serraj, and the Chamber of representatives of Tobruk, who as president Aguila Saleh Issa. Despite the strength of the Libyan National Army, which failed so far to incorporate all armed militias in Libya, the situation in the country after 2011 is mired in a severe crisis, economic, health and especially security, which happens to be totally absent in some southern areas, where armed clans clash for different reasons with each other. Taking advantage of this chaos, the country has become a breeding ground for the proliferation of the jihadist galaxy ideas, especially Isis and al-Qaeda, as explained by the Libyan general prosecutor Sadek Assour at a recent press conference in the capital, they found refuge in Sahara desert and in different cities. Just yesterday there was the last terrorist attack in the city of Misurata which caused several deaths and about twenty wounded, relief efforts by health authorities field hospital in the same town, run by an Italian mission. The escalation of violence and insecurity have led Western diplomatic missions to leave the country, over the years. Only in January this year Italy has reopened its embassy in Tripoli closed for two years. A signal of friendship to the Libyan people, but also a strong confidence in the stabilization of the country through which passes much of the illegal immigration from the African continent headed towards the Italian coast. From January to date we have been many activities carried out by the Italian diplomatic team on behalf of reconciliation and trying to improve the living conditions of the Libyan people, plagued by innumerable sufferings. In order to fully understand the complexity of all Libyans phenomena, even in relation to recent diplomatic meetings, we reached the ambassador Giuseppe Perrone, with whom we have deepened much of the most interesting and topical points.

-Ambasciatore Perrone, What are the activities of our embassy? What active Italian missions in Libya today?

"The Italian Embassy in Tripoli, being the only Western still present embassy, has a very wide range of activities going on, that we ourselves find it hard to understand, so this is big amount. This is of course to follow the political process so our support, our impetus to the ongoing political dialogue to overcome the division of the fact that there is still in the country, so all initiatives to promote reconciliation, but at the same time, Italy through the embassy in Tripoli, is very committed on the side of promoting stability and security. Of course the initiatives to control illegal migration flows and the fight against human trafficking represent a point very top of our operational agenda. This is an aspect that includes different types of initiatives, from those purely securitarian, aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Libyan security agencies, other initiatives which instead have a character development, designed to support the communities affected by the phenomena of illegality. Italy's presence, as the only Western country to Tripoli, and Libya, is particularly felt and appreciated by the Libyan people. The Embassy, with all its activities concerning the granting of visas yet-input as a single country - and its services to the population is seen as a constant and reliable reference by the Libyan people. As for Italian missions in the country we have a major health mission, humanitarian in the city of Misrata with the field hospital that is still open in the city and provides care and assistance to the wounded. Yesterday there was a terrorist attack and our hospital was quick to provide assistance to those affected by the attack. Then we have the naval mission, which was recently approved by the Italian government and that is here in Tripoli, which is providing substantial support to the Navy and the Libyan coast guard, helping them get back on their feet and to strengthen their ability to exercise sovereignty Libyan in all areas and in all regions of the country."

-In Libya we know to be a strong lack of security. What does this mean for you and for our officers? Have you ever been in dangerous situations?

"Of course Libya extreme fragmentation of security still lacking a unified army and working under a chain of command recognizable and attributable to political authority. This brings challenges and problems. It involves episodes of lack of security and a heightened risk of which we are all aware. The Italian Embassy in Libya works with an adequate system of protection and this is part of the political investment that our country does - does it in Libya and does so safely - putting together all that is necessary to enable the diplomatic mission to function. There are definitely situations of risk, but every time they are faced with great professionalism by the staff and in cooperation with relevant departments Libyans who have always ensured collaboration and absolutely effective presence".

-L'intervento stranger is not always frowned upon by many Libyans. After the news of the approval of Italian naval mission, which mentioned before, we know there have been protests. The recent visit to Rome of General Khalifa Haftar has disappointed anyone?

"Itis true that the naval mission was born with a mixed reception, where there have been several criticisms in particular in the east of the country to a foreign interference fear. When we explained pervasively and all stakeholders in the country What was this mission, which was namely to strengthen the sovereignty of Libya rather than weaken it, it is also completely changed his perception. Compared with a message of support to Libya, the welcome we got was extremely favorable and we have already seen much of the important results, giving an essential contribution to the reduction of illegal migration flows to Europe. Yesterday, for example, the first Libyan navy boat came out at sea a long time. We are helping the body of the Libyan defense back on their feet."

- newspaper,followed by other media in the international press as the The Guardian has reported about some videos proposed by the American blog Just Security that would demonstrate the strong man's responsibility to Tobruk in different executions, after the conviction of the International Court of Justice of the commander to Werfalli. Do you think there will be a sequel to Haftar?

"Aresult there will definitely be because there is an ongoing investigation. The charges are very serious and in-depth, and then will evidently explored in their full extent. Who will be involved I do not know to say it to him because I can not prejudge the results of an investigation, but it is certainly very serious investigation that the International Criminal Court - of which Italy is a founding member - before it with the utmost professionalism."

-Of recently, it has been confirmed by our government's full support to the initiative of the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). There will be a mission with Italian military in the South?

"No,what is provided is a support activity across the board, even for the south of the country, in the belief that illegal immigration can not be contained if action is not taken for the security of the southern borders. The aim of our strategy is just that, namely to strengthen Libyan capacities in control of the southern borders of the country. In this sense, we are working with the system of border guards and all Libyans relevant departments so that there is this qualitative leap in the southern border control capacity, but this does not provide an Italian military presence in Libya, but also to a support Libyan forces and agencies that deal with the control of territory and boundaries."

- The Special Representative UNSMIL, Ghassan Salame, opened the political process at all, only excluding the extremists by their own choice. It considers a possible return of Gaddafi family? In particular, Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's favorite son, as to circumvent the condemnation of the International Court of Justice?

"Ghassan Salame has adopted the right approach, namely to promote an inclusive process in which all those who want to participate in a sincere and available in comparison with others, are welcomed. Why Libya now needs all, he needs to recover this fragmentation and internal division. As for individuals, not it to him say. As for Mr. Saif al-Islam Gaddafi is on him an international arrest warrant. I saw that Ghassan Salame has made the press an opening speech to all Libyans, including against the former regime followers, but there are international legal procedures that will surely take their course."

- Referring to this "open to all", believes that the party "Justice and Construction", which represents the Muslim Brotherhood in Libya, led by Mohamed Sowan, will run for the elections?

"This should ask Mohamed Sowan, but I imagine that an inclusive approach means that all those wishing to participate peacefully and constructively in the political process, the opportunity to do so. Those who are excluded are those who resort to the use of weapons and intend to change the Libyan political scene through the use of violence, or who plan to pursue political goals through military confrontation."

- There is a strong figure for her now able to gather popular support and that of the social authority of the tribes?

"Ispersonalizzerei the Libyan policy, which at this time especially needs to find understanding, reconciliation and the ability to confront each other. Even the strongest personalities, who have a large following, arouse the strong resistance in other parts of the country. So, rather than customize, or try to find a solution to the Libyan problem with the task to a single person, we must ensure that the solution emerges from a genuine willingness to compromise and reconciliation between the Libyans, so that that the rules to be defined, they will then be respected byall."

- There is or there is an ongoing debate within the Interior Ministry, if re-open our skies to Libya? Or rather, he believes that will be restored air links with Tripoli in the short term?

"I definitely hope so. This is a priority that is felt at the highest level both from the Italian Government, both the Libyan government and has been clarified several times in the recent Italian-Libyan leaders, and it is an issue that requires technical answers, so that we can arrive at a recovery the direct flights, starting with Italy, because the Libyans have this strong expectation for us. It would be an event of high flow symbolic because it would mark, in some ways, the end of isolation to which the Libyan people, for too long, has been confined. "

-The please give us one final question. Any news about the interests claimed by the Italian entrepreneurs in Libya?

"Italy is the only country that has explicitly said, through his Foreign Minister, that we do not expect to eternal harmony conditions, or lasting stability, to continue our economic relations with Libya. We intend to do already from the start, of course, in a gradual manner, respecting the safety conditions on the ground. Indeed we are already doing. Italy is the country that more than any other is committed to the resumption of economic cooperation with Libya in the knowledge that economic growth is one of the ingredients of the most decisive factors for the stabilization of the country. Of course we are also aware of past problems, that several Italian entrepreneurs have suffered in Libya, which is why we are also trying with the authorities in the country an overall solution, which can then allow the general economic and commercial ties between our two countries in a manner fully unfold their potential."

BORIS JOHNSON SACKED FOR LIBYA?

http://www.thenational.scot/news/15575096.SNP_call_for_Boris_Johnsons_resignation_over_shock_Libya_comment/SNP call for Boris Johnson's resignation over shock Libya comment

THE SNP have backed calls for Boris Johnson to be sacked after he said that a war-torn Libyan city only has to “clear the dead bodies away” to become a world-class tourist and business destination.

Stephen Gethins, the party's foreign affairs spokesman urged the Prime Minister to take action after comments made by the gaff-prone Foreign Secretary at the Tory party conference last night.

"The UK government bears a particular responsibility for the situation in Libya given its failure to plan the aftermath of military action in 2011," said Gethins.

"The humanitarian disaster that has unfolded in the country since that intervention is rightly seen as one of this governments worst foreign policy failures."

He added: "The Foreign Secretary’s lack of grasp of this dire situation shows that he is completely unfit for the office."

Gethins's remarks follow calls from Tory backbenchers and by Labour to sack Johnson who has been accused over the past few days of undermining May's position on Brexit.

Last night Johnson was accused by Labour of being “unbelievably crass, callous and cruel” about those who died in the battle to reclaim Sirte from Islamic State (Isis), after he was asked at the Conservative party conference what it was like visiting Libya as foreign secretary.

Speaking about the potential of Sirte, the Libyan city where Muammar Gaddafi was killed, Johnson drew gasps and embarrassed laughter from the audience as he said: “There’s a group of UK business people, wonderful guys who want to invest in Sirte, on the coast, near where Gaddafi was actually captured and executed as some of you may have seen.

“And they literally have a brilliant vision to turn Sirte, with the help of the municipality of Sirte, to turn it into the next Dubai.

“The only thing they’ve got to do is clear the dead bodies away and then they’ll be there.”

Heidi Allen was the first Tory MP to call for Johnson to lose his cabinet job over the Libya remarks.

She said late on Tuesday that it was “100% unacceptable from anyone, let alone the foreign secretary”, adding: “Boris must be sacked for this. He does not represent my party.”

Her Conservative colleague Sarah Wollaston MP joined in the criticism of Johnson adding: “Demeaning jokes about real people murdered in Libya would be crass even from a stand-up; appalled to hear this from our foreign secretary.”

This morning Wollaston said on the BBC’s Today Programme that Johnson’s remarks were “crass, poorly judged and grossly insensitive” and said that he should apologise and “consider his position”.

But instead of apologising, Johnson took to Twitter late on Tuesday night to attack his critics. “Shame people with no knowledge or understanding of Libya want to play politics with the appallingly dangerous reality in Sirte,” he tweeted.

SABRATHA KILLINGS 1.10.207 ETC.

The killing of two dignitaries of the Beni Oualid clan last Friday was in addition to the deadly fighting that rival groups have held for two weeks at Sabratha, killing 26 and injuring 170 others. Facts of concern for Algeria and other neighboring countries.
Since the beginning of 2016, the migratory crisis has exploded and, with it, the fear of terrorism. An obsession that the successive events in France, Belgium and Germany have unfortunately underpinned. It should be remembered that at the time Interpol announced that Daesh had 250,000 Syrian and Iraqi virgin passports, and that, according to Europol, 3,000 to 5,000 were to integrate the migrant cohorts at the gates 'Europe. From there to openly amalgamate the migratory flows and the terrorist threat, there was only one step, happily crossed by some EU countries that did not digest the rider alone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel when she "invited one million Syrians, overcoming the Schengen visa. The fact is that the phenomenon has reached such a magnitude and that the flow has concentrated in neighboring Libya, where traffic has become a very lucrative activity, to the point of arousing a strong reaction from the GNA of Fayez al Serraj but also from the authorities from the east. The strong recrudescence of immigrant candidates, after having swept across the Greek and Bulgarian borders, turned to the Italian coasts via Libya, to the extent that Rome has multiplied the grievances and pressures to obtain a "right of Libyan territorial waters. In 2016, Frontex planned to double the number of migrants (Sudanese, Eritreans, Malians and Somalis) from the Libyan coast to the European coasts, ie 300,000. Around 800,000 were already waiting in Libya, a number that adds to the 6 million displaced Syrians.In 2017, the victories over Daesh, both in Iraq and Syria, as well as in Sirte and Sabratha in Libya, triggered an ebbing of its fighters towards their country of origin but also towards Europe. This prompted the Berne Club (alliance of European intelligence) to warn against simultaneous attacks in several European capitals. As early as January 2017, Italy had put pressure on the GNA and on the authorities in the East to control severely the large-scale traffic that had developed, mainly in Sabratha, where most of the boats of migrants. Haftar who visited Rome last week, after an official visit to Tunis, handed over to the Italian Minister of Defense a list of war material (4x4, night vision sights, helicopters, etc.) to accomplish the task of surveillance of the South Libyan but it obtained only the assurance of a training of a few dozen elements to the requirements of security.It turns out that the war against the smuggling of migrants made Friday two victims, dignitaries belonging to one of the major clans of the country. On a mission of good offices to appease tensions between rival gangs, according to tribes of the region, they were machine-gunned on their return to Beni Oualid, 180 km south of Tripoli. The social council of the tribes of Ouarfella denounced the assassination of "Sheikh Abdallah Nattat, head of the reconciliation committee, Sheikh Khamis Isbaga and their two accompanying persons", followed immediately by the GNA who opened an inquiry and by the Parliament sitting in Tobruk. The killing of the two dignitaries took place at a time when deadly fights were rivaling rival groups in Sabratha, leaving 26 dead and 170 wounded. Algeria and other neighboring countries are worrying facts. It is clear that the situation remains complex enough to suggest that the solution would be within reach. The double journey made in April-May by Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel in the majority of cities was a necessary time in the mediation strategy led by the UN and the Group of Neighboring Countries. While Daesh was driven out of several cities such as Sirte and Sabratha, the fact remains that the smuggling of migrants, now fought by the GNA and the Eastern authorities, served as a breeding matrix for terrorism at multiple faces whose aims concern our country. Consequently, incessant diplomatic work cannot be seen as an ostentatious luxury because the stakes are paramount for the peace and security of the subregion. The meeting in Tunis last Tuesday of representatives of the Libyan rival parties has identified the complexity of the task, with the declared aim of reaching a "limited" amendment to the 2015 agreement to calm Marshal Haftar's ardor, Saleh Aguila, President of the House of Representatives and Abderrahmane Sweihli, President of the State Council, while maintaining a "legitimacy" of the GNA supported by the militias of Tripoli including those of Haythem Tajouri and Abderaouf Kara. A long-term effort is therefore still needed for a political solution to be reached, an objective that Algeria is pursuing, against all odds, while providing unbiased support to all the parties involved in the inclusive dialogue , the only possible source of peace for the Libyan people.

PERSONAL COMMENT 
LIBYA HAD AN EXCELLENT CONSTITUTION IN 1951. SMALL MODIFICATIONS AND UPDATES MAYBE NECESSARY. THAT IS ALL.

UK Ambassador mr Peter Millet notes 30.9.2017

I had coffee the other day in Algeria Square in central Tripoli.  I was passing by and was invited to sit with a group of men who kindly offered me some local coffee. It was a good opportunity to escape from the heat of the sun and hear their thoughts.

On Saturday I was in Benghazi.  Here, I decided to have tea.  Again, it was a chance to listen and learn.

You can’t understand a country unless you can meet people and find out what is on their minds.  In both Tripoli and Benghazi, the people I spoke to had similar concerns.  Number One is security.  In both cities, the situation is a calmer and quieter.   But it is fragile.  People are rightly worried about the return of violence, whether from terrorists, criminal gangs or militias.

The economy is also top of people’s agenda.  It is truly appalling to see long lines of people outside banks waiting patiently and with great dignity to try to get some cash. The black market rate of exchange and the rate of inflation also make the cost of living increasingly difficult. And the long power cuts are making life in many parts of the country a misery.

Life is tough for most Libyans.  Yet what they want is no different from what people want in any country: to live in peace, put bread on their family’s table, educate their children and know that they will be looked after if they get ill. Their designs, desires and demands are the same as those felt by any person in a coffee shop in London.

The 17 February revolution was supposed to bring some sort of new normality to life in Libya. Huge sacrifices were made to build a better life.

This was brought home to me dramatically by a man I met at Tunis airport who told me that both his sons were killed in the revolution, his wife died of a broken heart and his brother was killed by Daesh.  He called on me to stand by Libya.

Of course we stand by Libya.  We helped protect citizens in 2011 and we now want to help to bring peace and security to the Libyan people.

Appeals for us to help were part of our conversations in both Tripoli and Benghazi. The people I met all believe that we have a duty to help and can do more.

There is a tricky challenge here.  People demand support from the international community but rightly reject interference in their affairs. Of course: the future of Libya is for the Libyans to decide. But there is a fine line between interaction and interference.

The role of the international community is clear.  Interaction means facilitating contact between Libyans, encouraging agreement and then helping to implement it through the design and delivery of programmes to help improve the lives of Libyans.

We are already involved in delivering benefits. For example, we have funded the Stabilisation Facility for Libya that has allowed the Government of National Accord to deliver ambulances, fire engines, solar panels and other tangible benefits in Ubari, Benghazi, Kikla and Sirte.  This work will continue to help rebuild destroyed communities.

The same support applies at political level: we will support the new UN Special Representative Ghassan Salame to amend and implement the Libya Political Agreement.  He too will want to hear the views of Libyans and understand how best to meet the needs of the Libyan people.

Tripoli and Benghazi are the big cities.  I have also visited Misrata and Tobruq.  But I want to go further and meet men and women in all parts of Libya and hear their views. More coffee and tea is on the menu.

WHITE LIBYA

"It is not easy to be blacks in Libya," said Noah, choosing his words carefully, and speaking in a low voice, though no one could hear us. We were sitting at the tables outside the Sky Bar in Tripoli. It was an afternoon of great heat and all customers were seeking shelter inside, with air conditioning. Noah comes from Niger, works at the bar with tasks rather vague, like any other foreigner in Libya, especially the blacks who come from neighboring African countries.
I agree with him, but in Libya do not admit it publicly, we continue to tell us that we are all equal in the sight of Allah, the Islam says, which in theory is true. But I, he and all the other black people in Libya know that the reality is very different, because we do not practice what we preach.
Noah took me a while 'before deciding that he could trust me and that he could speak freely. I had to spend long hours at the bar in the last two months, have a large and reliable source of good internet connection. Due to the long blackout in Tripoli, that table at the corner of the bar has become my office. Tripoli sank in the dark, desperate people were queuing outside the banks all day and slept there on the street overnight. The gas stations were besieged because of fuel shortages.

The militia commanders have purged Tripoli from any form of resistance

Reading the statements of some Italian officials of Tripoli, I find it misleading to say that here there are no mass demonstrations against the shameful agreement with Italy and the arrival of Italian ships in Libya. Obviously there are no demonstrations, and there will be none, but not because people approve of all this.
Who would complain? There have been rumors to the contrary. Many journalists have left Tripoli after they have been victims of threats, kidnappings and murders, and things are no better for activists. Who really keeps order in Tripoli, that militia commanders and not the puppet government, he has purged the city from any form of resistance or peaceful opposition. Words such as human rights and legality are absent from their vocabulary. The puppet government tacitly approves the actions of the warlords, there is just to sign what they require to sign, to dance on demand and live with the militias. They use the same old trick in Guide to govern Libya: "starves the dog and the dog will follow you."
Looks lowered
The situation is difficult for everyone, but for Noah things are even worse. The owner of the bar, like all the other owners of shops and bars in Libya, African blacks forcing workers to work hard for many hours a day. They do everything, from the first hours of the night morning anchor, clean the windows and tables, wash the floors, carrying boxes and equipment, they shop, wash their cars and perform any other task may be his assigned, according to the employers' whim work. How to pay, receiving small fractions of the minimum wage, and their passports are requirements as a form of insurance.
Another thing, very important: must always answer "yes sir", can not look the other person straight in the eye too long or refuse to execute an order. At any moment they can be kicked out kicking, sometimes literally. They sit by, invisible, they walk among us with his head down, when your eyes meet theirs, immediately distract the eye, and unless you do not smile or greet them will never turn the word first. They live in Libya as if they were in an elevator, embarrassed, avoiding any eye contact, silent until the elevator doors do not open. Only at that point they can not get out of the elevator and go back to being normal people.
Racism in Libya has very deep roots, is a part of our history that we tend to ignore and not from a generation long time will be grown without knowing it. Maybe today people are not fully aware, perhaps this is why we are likely to repeat it. I never managed to frame accurately these thoughts. Gloria instead knew exactly how to do it.
The history excluded from the history books
I was going to Venice for the premiere of The Order of Things . They had to go from Tunisia before heading to Italy. It was a year of great traffic, so I could not find a direct flight to Venice and I was forced to land in Rome and then to go to Padua, where I spent the night at the home of two of my friends, Gloria Carlini and Matteo Calore. Gloria graduated in socio-cultural anthropology and ethnology with a thesis on sex work and sexuality among young slum of Kampala. Since March of 2014 in the "Shadow of Slavery project in West Africa and beyond".
Gloria told me that there are missing parts of the story, parts of which today are not taught to children in school. You can not delete these chapters, or pretend they do not exist, just because we do not like. So it has taken on the task of telling the children what is excluded from the history books they use in school.

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I agree with you, we all tend to amend the story, but in Libya we do very often, and not only with the early history, even with the most recent events. This is the case of serious clashes antimmigrati in 2000, calls slaves revolution , which, paradoxically, in our dialect means "revolution against the slaves." Crowds of angry people attacked and killed dozens of workers from African countries such as Ghana, Niger, Chad and Nigeria. From the town of Al Zawiya the riots have spread throughout the western region of the country, including Tripoli.
But we do not even great efforts to hide this feeling of hostility. In July the government based in Al Beida has established new tariffs for weddings: a Libyan who wants to marry a foreign woman has to pay five thousand dinars, a foreigner who wants to marry a Libyan woman has to pay three thousand dinars, for the Libyans who marry other Libyans the rates are 50 dinars. Whatever their justification, it is a punishment for those who do not want to marry a Libyan and a Libyan. Besides the new decree does not mention at all the possibility of granting the Libyan citizenship to children of a Libyan woman married to a foreigner.
I wonder if I'll find even Noah when he returned to Libya. We were never able to complete a conversation, they always interrupted, always had to go do something somewhere else: "Noah come here, go there, Noah, Noah brings this, Noah clean that." Sometimes I thought I would have to call it the "bar Noah."

LIBIA 18.9.2017

"Troppi cuochi in cucina rovinano il brodo", ha detto Ghassan Salamé, nuovo capo della missione di sostegno delle Nazioni Unite in Libia, al quotidiano italiano La Stampa all'inizio di questo mese, riferendosi a varie iniziative internazionali per portare la pace in Libia.

Certamente ci sono stati molti sforzi. A maggio, gli Emirati Arabi Uniti hanno ospitato un incontro tra il primo ministro del governo della Libia, Fayez al-Serraj, e il comandante dell'esercito nazionale libico, Khalifa Haftar. Il 25 luglio Haftar e al-Serraj a Parigi hanno firmato una dichiarazione congiunta a Parigi. Il 9 settembre si è tenuto un mini-summit dell'Unione africana sulla Libia in Congo-Brazzaville e sono stati anche riuniti olandesi-mediati tra parlamentari rivali e una presunta iniziativa di pace russa. Di tutti questi, Salamé era particolarmente a favore della riunione di Parigi.

Da parte sua, l'ONU spera di respirare nuova vita nell'accordo politico libico (LPA). Questo è stato firmato nel dicembre 2015 ma finora non è riuscito a far fronte alla crisi del paese. I dettagli del nuovo piano di Salamé - che prevedono di includere modifiche alla LPA - saranno rivelati questa settimana con una riunione sulla Libia prevista a fianco dell'Assemblea generale delle Nazioni Unite il mercoledì.

Mentre la frustrazione di Salamé è giustificata, le sue proposte rischiano di restare inefficace finché paesi come l'Egitto, la Russia, la Turchia, il Qatar, l'Italia e la Francia prestano servizio al PLA pur sostenendo le loro fazioni preferite sul terreno. La convergenza internazionale su ciò che il futuro della Libia dovrebbe assomigliare è necessaria prima che un affare operabile possa avvenire.

Un motivo per cui diversi attori regionali hanno seguito le proprie iniziative diplomatiche è l'inerzia dell'amministrazione di Trump in Libia. La presenza di segretario di Stato Tillerson la scorsa settimana in una conferenza organizzata dal Regno Unito per sostenere gli sforzi di Salamé è un passo nella giusta direzione, ma saranno necessari importanti paesi come l'Italia, l'Egitto, gli Emirati Arabi Uniti, la Turchia, la Russia e il Qatar al tavolo se un accordo UN-backed deve avere persino una possibilità remota di successo.

La dichiarazione congiunta molto celebrata firmata da Al-Serraj e Haftar a Parigi due mesi fa riconosce implicitamente il fallimento dell'APL nella sua forma attuale, è improbabile che porti fine al conflitto in Libia.

Mentre al-Serraj e Haftar rappresentano i principali rivali della Libia, c'è una miriade di milizie concorrenti e di gruppi tribali e di organizzazioni estremiste come il ramo libico dello Stato islamico. A Tripoli, il governo di Al-Serraj, sostenuto dalle Nazioni Unite, ha un piccolo controllo sulle fazioni che sono nominalmente fedeli ad esso e alcune milizie sostengono il rivale governo di salvezza a Tripoli.

A est, l'accordo consente a Haftar di continuare l'offensiva contro il terrorismo. Secondo The Guardian, poco dopo l'annuncio dell'offerta, il partito di Giustizia e Costruzione della Fratellanza Musulmana - un avversario chiave di Haftar - ha segnalato il suo rifiuto dei termini, affermando di rispettare solamente gli accordi colpiti dalla mediazione delle Nazioni Unite e non i colloqui di Parigi convocati dal presidente francese Emmanuel Macron. A causa del peso militare ed economico di tali gruppi, un accordo tra Haftar e al-Serraj non è sufficiente e di per sé; e ogni accordo deve prendere in considerazione gli interessi di questi gruppi locali.

Accordo locale, regionale e internazionale su ciò che vorrebbero realizzare in Libia - un prerequisito per un accordo globale di pace mirato da molti - è improbabile che si verifichi quest'anno. Invece di aspettare la creazione di un governo di unità, o di nuove elezioni, la governance economica e i ceppi di guerra locali devono essere affrontati nei colloqui condotti dall'ONU.

Come ho già sostenuto, il flusso di cassa dei campi petroliferi del paese è fondamentale non solo per la ripresa economica della Libia, ma anche per la sicurezza. Quasi tutte le principali milizie del paese ricevono salari di stato. Secondo le esperienze della Libia dell'International Crisis Group, Claudia Gazzini, che compie progressi nella gestione e nella sicurezza del campo petrolifero e dei terminali della Libia, sarà un primo passo cruciale per raggiungere un grande affare per la ricchezza petrolifera della Libia e per stabilizzare l'economia fragile del Paese , anche in assenza di un accordo politico ».

Mentre i colloqui sulla governance economica potrebbero promuovere un apprezzamento dalle fazioni rivali della Libia della loro interdipendenza, i cessate il fuoco a Tripoli, Bengasi e Sirte potrebbero lentamente iniziare a scoraggiare la miriade di conflitti in Libia. Dopo la sconfitta dei grandi affari negli ultimi sei anni, la comunità internazionale ha più probabilità di vedere la Libia stabile che cerca di essere consegnata attraverso piccoli passi intermedi.

LIBYA BTWN FRANCE & ITALY

"In every conflict, regular maneuvers lead to clash and unpredictable victories," said Sūnzǐ, general and Chinese strategist of the 5th century BC. In today's Europe, however, Emmanuel Macron demonstrates and applies this maxim: with the fragile meeting of Paris with President Sarraj and General Haftar for the Libyan solution. A "zombie" move that left many international actors, in particular Italy, one of the protagonists in the area, who had to react not only with a close-knit smile to the gollosis initiative but also with a noisy silence .

Italy, which has always sought to be a protagonist in Libya in the economic and diplomatic fields, has come up with a photo memory that in itself has no real value (given the lack of signatures of the two Libyan government authorities) but Certainly a significant political burden in the era of new imperialism on the African continent. Photo taken while all the Italian feluchi, gathered together with Rome, tried to demonstrate the unity and strategic will to achieve ambitious soft power.

The new French colonialism seems to be anachronistic, but only the setting and the demonstration of domination have been set aside; The narrative has changed, but the effects are still apparent and the results are far from off. Colonialism in globalized sauce is more subtle, but also shared, given the many interests: from the African-Chinese understanding in the economic and military sphere, to the new Marshall plan in German style and to the new French and US roles in the continent.

A series of passages that have changed the genetics of globalization into a form of "political" imperialism veiled by economic interests and stabilization. A sort of "Holy Alliance 2.0" where the rulers, gathered in Brussels, discuss together and jointly to develop a climate of serenity and peace, although in reality everyone in the heart is dominated by an unpressed national revanscism force on the European continent but Completely visible beyond the Mediterranean. I do not think change battlefield and army, while enemies are always the same, either the right path I'm not saying to create a lasting peace but at least to begin solving hiccups.

A hypocrisy of the Old Continent that risks bringing the European integration project to a perfect script as if it were a sort of enlarged Weimar republic, while in the rest of the world a campaign of influence is underway to align new interests and give Opportunity to emerge in new global markets, a case for all Angola with its capital Luanda.

The case of Libya is once again a Game of Thrones saxophone where diplomacy is showing the best of itself to hide the opposing faces of national unity: on the one hand the influences of Russia and the Arab Emirates, On the other, Turkey and Qatar. A battle for European intellectual intelligence that risks giving a distorted view of the facts and scenarios.

The Makronan Empire or the Reich Merkelian are strong cultural manifestations that have very persuasive collective imaginations, but represent not a new colonization, but the protection of their interests in the game of supremacy in the Middle East and Africa.

It is well understood that the Libyan script is not just an economic or political game of "home Europe", but a game that can delegitimize a series of deployed forces that are now also looking for new game scenarios to express Their dominant force and their cultural expansion outside continental contexts.

IN  ITALIAN

“In ogni conflitto le manovre regolari portano allo scontro e quelle imprevedibili alla vittoria”, diceva Sūnzǐ, generale e stratega cinese del V secolo a.C. Nell’Europa odierna invece è Emmanuel Macron che dimostra e applica questa massima: con il fragile incontro di Parigi con il Presidente Sarraj e il generale Haftar per la soluzione libica. Una mossa “lampo” che ha lasciato spiazzati molti attori internazionali, in primis l’Italia, uno dei maggiori protagonisti nell’area, che ha dovuto reagire non solo con un sorriso a denti stretti all’iniziativa gollista, ma anche con un rumoroso silenzio.
L’Italia, che ha sempre cercato di essere protagonista in Libia in campo economico e diplomatico, si è ritrovata con una foto ricordo che di per sé non ha una valenza effettiva (vista la mancata firma dell’intesa delle due autorità governative libiche) ma sicuramente un rilevante peso politico nell’era del nuovo imperialismo nel continente africano. Foto ricevuta mentre tutte le feluche italiane, riunite insieme a Roma, provavano a dare prova di unità e volontà strategica di conseguire soft power ambizioso.
Il nuovo colonialismo francese sembra essere anacronistico, ma è stata accantonata soltanto la scenografia e la dimostrazione di dominio; è cambiata la narrativa, ma gli effetti sono comunque evidenti e gli esiti tutt’altro che scontati. Il colonialismo in salsa globalista è più sottile, ma anche condiviso, visti gli interessi molteplici: dall’intesa afro-cinese in campo economico e militare, al nuovo piano Marshall in veste tedesca e ancora al nuovo ruolo francese e a quello statunitense nel continente.
Una serie di passaggi che hanno mutato la genetica della globalizzazione in una forma di imperialismo “politico” velato dagli interessi economici e di stabilizzazione. Una sorta di “Santa Alleanza 2.0” dove i regnanti, riuniti a Bruxelles, discutono unitamente e congiuntamente per lo sviluppo di un clima di serenità e pace anche se in realtà nel cuore di ognuno domina una forza di revanscismo nazionale inespresso nel continente europeo, ma del tutto visibile al di là del mediterraneo. Non credo che cambiare campo di battaglia ed esercito, mentre i nemici sono sempre gli stessi, sia la strada giusta non dico per creare una pace duratura ma almeno per iniziare a risolvere problemi cogenti.
Un’ipocrisia quindi del Vecchio Continente che rischia di portare il progetto dell’integrazione europea ad una sceneggiatura perfetta come se fosse una sorta di Repubblica di Weimar allargata, mentre nel resto del mondo è in corso una campagna di influenza per allineare nuovi interessi e dare possibilità di emergere a nuovi mercati globali, un caso per tutti l’Angola con la sua capitale Luanda.
Il caso della Libia rappresenta ancora una volta uno scacchiere in salsa “Game of Thrones” in cui la diplomazia sta mettendo in mostra il meglio di sé per nascondere i veti contrapposti all’unità nazionale: da un lato le influenze di Russia ed Emirati Arabi, dall’altra Turchia e Qatar. Una battaglia all’insegna dell’ingenuità intellettuale europea che rischia di dare una visione distorta dei fatti e degli scenari.
L’impero macroniano o il reich merkeliano sono manifestazioni di culture forti che hanno di per sé immaginari collettivi molto persuasivi, ma rappresentano non una nuova colonizzazione bensì la tutela dei propri interessi nella partita della supremazia in Medio Oriente e in Africa.
Si comprende bene quindi che la sceneggiatura libica non è solo un gioco economico o politico di “casa Europa”, bensì una partita che può delegittimare una serie di forze schierate che oggi si trovano anch’esse alla ricerca di nuovi scenari di gioco per poter esprimere la loro forza dominante e il loro espansionismo culturale al di fuori dei contesti continentali.

Seif Al Islam Kadafi

Forty-one days after the official release of Saif al-Islam Kadhafi in Zintan, the son of former Libyan leader has not yet reappeared. Speculation about its fate will give up for dead. But the reality is different. It does not show for safety reasons. Many people and parties want his head. His supporters are now convinced that NATO, which failed to kill him in 2011, still trying to get his head.

Despite the intimate conviction supporters of Saif al-Islam, the West does not see in the person of the younger son of Mouammar Kadhafi a new leader for Libya. At least for the moment. It remains claimed by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes allegedly committed during the 2011 uprising, but he did not deliver and lawyers say his case lack of content.

State secrets holders and with records of some Western leaders and services, its existence embarrassed and sensitive issues will sooner or later come out. So, the temptation to silence this potential heir to power in Libya turns out great.

Inside Libya, Islamists seek to exclude him from the political landscape. He knows them perfectly. It was he who freed them from his father's prisons, on condition of leaving the weapons. Weapons were not left  in 2011. Saif al-Islam considered that they cheated despite the dialogue it was established with them.

Currently, the Zintan military council is strongly divided. Al Ajmi Al Eteiri, head of the brigade in charge to keep Saif al-Islam and his team is sanctioned Abou Bakr Al Siddik is dissolved. Not only he released Saif al-Islam katiba but this had prevented his assassination several times during his imprisonment.

Osama Joweli, head of the military council of the town of Zintan and defense minister in 2011, is deemed close to the current of political Islam. He objected to the release of Saif al-Islam and wanted to get their hands on him without success. Jouayli is suspected to be the ally of Ali Al Sallabi, an Islamist living in Qatar. Former prisoner as an Islamist, he was released by Saif al-Islam itself. Jouayli Sallabi and seek to deliver the CFI.

Blurring role of Qatar

Informed Libyan sources said that Qatar, with Libyan Islamist Fajr Libya, had tried several times to kill Saif al-Islam. His place of detention was targeted by Aviation several times in 2014 and 2015. Saif al-Islam life owed to leaks.

The sponsors of the assassination of his father will not be quiet with Saif al-Islam at large. The charges then head to Qatar, but also to France that hit the convoy of Libyan leader. Political Islam, he knows.

The Islamists know very well that with Saif al-Islam to power they will have no place they are looking for being in power in Libya. They fight with all their might, therefore, to eject it from the country's political scene.

The Libyan press and Internet evoke words they attribute to Saif al-Islam at its release. He would have said he would assign Qatar before Intl Court of Justice for having ordered the assassination of his father.

Against all those who want the head of Saif al-Islam, to take power or to keep secrets, there are many people who want to put at the head of the country, and especially the tribes, founder and influential in Libyan society. These tribes see in Saif al-Islam the next savior and the only person able to lead reconciliation efforts in the country.

LIBYA & USA Jul 2017

According to two sources inside the American administration who spoke with CNN,in the coming weeks is coming from Washington a new strategy on Libya. At issue there would be a policy different from disinterested reading that so far President Donald Trump has given the crisis - seen not as a matter of strategic interest to the Americans, but only one hunting camp to strike the remnants of the Islamic State remained in the country after the fall of Sirte, a stronghold. The Americans would intend to re-open the consulate in Benghazi, whose liberation from Islamist groups, jihadists (and some spurious baghdadist) was recently by Haftar forces, and retract the ambassador in Libya, which is now far from the country due of poor safety conditions. Not only that Washington plans to send military advisers and instructors to help the nascent Libyan security forces.

BETWEEN Serraj HAFTAR

now it would be in the approval (and therefore by no means definitive) a plan to try a more involved approach even towards the war that divided the country in an attempt to reconcile the warring militias under the umbrella of the government in Tripoli. It is worth mentioning that the UN, since December 2015, has signed an agreement for national reconciliation, supporting a prime minister, Fayez Serraj,which despite a forced induction last spring has not had final confirmation of his role, and find obstacles both in the western portion of the country (where there are Islamic faction that does not support it) is in the east, where general Khalifa Haftar has set up an ambitious political program that masquerades as anti-terrorism campaign. The complicated situation weighs the presence of the interests of external actors, such as Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, which have provided support to Haftar, and Europe that has sided with Serraj without much conviction. Monday, July 10, the Pentagon chief James Mattis hosted in Washington, in two separate meetings, both the Tunisian prime minister, and Tuesday will see the Italian Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti.

THE CENTRAL 'LIBYA

The Libyan crisis Italy has immediately tried to build an open position, supporting the UN sector process, but seeking dialogue with the East. And Italians are the first interested in the new American approach, since resolving the Libyan crisis would open by the way the real possibility to intervene in the migration process. Libya is the launching point for human trafficking that ply the Mediterranean, and, despite the agreements sought from Rome, direct intervention in the North African region is impossible until there are political authorities and actual military and capable of administering the country ( all). The new US strategy will still have as a formal goal the fight against terrorism, as the face defeat in Sirte has not canceled the Islamic state from the dial, but has lost it in the southern areas - the ungovernable Fezzan, a no man's land in the hands of local tribes - putting him in contact with the dynamics of the other jihadist groups that run through the Sahel and confuse their own interests with criminal activities (smuggling and trafficking of all kinds, including people).

US PROJECTS

But there is also a political side, because the Americans - as mentioned - they are going to re-open the consulate in Benghazi, whose liberation from Islamist groups, jihadists (and some spurious baghdadist) was recently by Haftar forces, and retract the ambassador in Libya, which is now far away from the country because of poor security conditions. Note: the reopening of the Benghazi consulate has a rather symbolic value, because it was closed in 2012 when an attack organized by Al Qaeda militia killed four Americans, including the console Chris Stephens (an open wound in the US when it comes to Libya ). Also, in Benghazi reinstated would strike up some kind of formal collaboration with Haftar, which controls the area. Washington also plans to send military advisers and instructors to help the nascent Libyan security forces, and could formalize the role of fifty special units sent around the country to gather intelligence on terrorist groups ( "officially" because such teams are already on the ground in Libya for years and play a similar task). If things go well, it can also be the opening of a center of intelligence sharing between Americans and Libyans.