Libya Weekly Security Update

Security Update – 13 May 2013

Overview

The continuing impasse and blockade of the Foreign and Justice Ministries has continued for much of this week with accompanying heightened tensions that culminated on Friday with counter demonstrations against the blockades and in favour of the Prime Minister, Ali Zeidan. This has provided the catalyst for the militias to withdraw, collapse their blockades and tensions have lessened as a result.
There is continuing turbulence within the political classes that has extended wider into Libyan society over the Political Isolation Bill. The Defence Minister resigned earlier in the week only to rescind it as the Army Chief of Staff was dismissed.
The international community has urged calm and has issued strong advice advising against all but essential travel to parts of Libya and no travel to others currently, together with withdrawing non-essential staff from its diplomatic missions and embassies. BP has similarly announced the withdrawal of some of its staff until the security situation improves.
Sporadic violence against those associated with the Gaddafi regime and security organs continues in the East with a number of attacks against police stations and targeted assassinations – a trend in recent months. Today’s car bomb outside a hospital in Benghazi that has killed 9 and woundeda further 30 is the most serious attack in recent weeks. It is too early to know who committed this latest atrocity.

Tripolitania (Western Libya)

The week started in confusion on 7 May with the Defence Minister announcing his resignation over the continued blockading of the ministries and the Political Isolation Bill but he then rescinded it with the Army Chief of Staff being dismissed instead. General Yusef al-Mangoush had long been accused of not pushing forward hard enough on Security Sector Reform for the Libyan Army and he has paid the price. The General National Congress (GNC) has been pushing for his dismissal for some time.
The blockades of the Foreign and Justice Ministries continued until Friday 10 May when counter-demonstrations against the militia stranglehold and their intimidation saw some scuffles leading to the blockades ending with the withdrawal of the militias from the two ministries. Justice Minister Salah al-Marghani announced on Saturday that “those who were at the two ministries have handed over the two ministries to a committee formed by the government and the General National Congress and have now departed.” Staff at both the ministries have now returned to work.

The wider implications of the Political Isolation Bill are still not known but the Prime Minister has already acknowledged that it will probably necessitate a major cabinet reshuffle.
Tensions had continued to build during the week to that point. The escalation was considered serious enough for the P3 – the US, UK and France – to urge restraint by all sides to avoid slipping into further violence and instability. Embassies issued renewed travel advice concerning only essential travel in the west and no travel to the east. They have also withdrawn most of their non-essential staff from country and BP have reacted similarly with reductions in their staffing levels announced on 12 May.
Separately on 12 May the office of the Ports Authority in Janzour was attacked early in the morning when it was struck by two RPGs. There were no casualties given the time of the attack but some damage was caused to the building.

Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya)

The travel advice to foreigners not to travel to the east of Libya, in particular Benghazi has been renewed by most of the international community foreign ministries. This was borne out by today’s car bomb outside a Benghazi hospital that has killed and wounded many. The motivations behind this latest attack are not clear yet.
The trend of targeting police stations in the east has continued this week with two attacks against them in Benghazi on 10 May with no casualties but damage to their infrastructure and materiel, such as vehicles. And then another two were attacked on 12 May again in Benghazi.
Damage was done to a car pound when an explosive device was thrown into it in Benghazi’s Al-Nahar Street. Many of the vehicles were damaged but it is thought that the intended target was a military police camp next to it.
Derna continues to be a focus for targeted killings against security force members and those who worked for the former regime. This week on 10 May Maziq Mliti was assassinated as he arrived at home. He is believed to have worked at the Interior Security office in Derna under Gaddafi’s reign.

Fezzan (SW Libya)

This week on 9 May there was heavy fighting in Sebha during the night over the tomb of a holy man between his followers and those wishing to destroy it. It is believed that at least one person has been killed and it is just the latest incident of violence in the town in recent weeks.