Libya

TRIPOLI, Nov 15 (NNN-INA) – Libyan authorities announced reopening of the country’s border crossing with Tunisia, after months of closure over the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The border has been reopened, in coordination with all efforts in both countries. It is now open for movement of travellers of both countries,” said Abu-Rabee Makhlouf, security director of the Ras Ajdir Border Crossing with Tunisia.

14 Nov 2020; MEMO: Libya's warring sides agreed Friday to hold elections on December 24, 2021, on Libya's independence day, according to the head of the UN support mission in the country, Anadolu Agency reports.

The decision came during a UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) which began Monday in Tunisia between representatives of the internationally recognised Libyan government and warlord Khalifa Haftar.

12 Nov 2020; MEMO: A member of the Libyan government's delegation of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) announced on Wednesday that the city of Sirte has been cleared of military forces, as part of the comprehensive ceasefire agreement between the parties to the conflict in the country.

In statements broadcast by the local private channel Libya Al Ahrar, Brigadier General Al-Fitouri Gharibel confirmed: "The city of Sirte is currently emptied of troops and there are only security forces there."

TRIPOLI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday said that 119 illegal immigrants, among them women and children, have been rescued off Libyan coast.

"While IOM staff were at the disembarkation point to provide emergency assistance, we reiterate that Libya cannot be considered a safe port," the IOM tweeted later Sunday.

TRIPOLI, Nov 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) of the UN-backed Libyan government, said that, the country’s daily oil production has exceeded one million barrels.

The NOC announces that, it managed to raise production rates to 1,036,035 barrels a day.

However, the NOC said, it may not be able to sustain the current production levels, and these levels may be reduced or totally ceased “under the reluctance of some entities and their hindering of NOC’s efforts to increase production and restore the prosperity of the national economy.”

31 Oct 2020; MEMO: Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said on Friday he took back his decision to resign at the end of October, Anadolu Agency reports.

Sarraj will remain in office until the ongoing intra-Libyan political dialogue talks come to an end, Libyan government spokesman Galib al-Zaklai said on Twitter.

30 Oct 2020; MEMO: The High Council of State urged the head of the Presidential Council, Fayez al-Sarraj, to stay on Thursday until a new presidential council is selected in order to avoid a political vacuum and for Libya’s stability, Anadolu Agency reports.

TARHOUNA, Libya (Reuters) - Libyan authorities have dug 12 bodies from four more unmarked graves in the city of Tarhouna, adding to the scores of corpses already discovered since the area was recaptured in June by the Government of National Accord (GNA).

Tarhouna had for years been controlled by a militia known as the Kaniyat, run by the local Kani family, which fought alongside Khalifa Haftar’s eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).

The GNA has issued arrest warrants for Kaniyat leaders who are now believed to be in eastern Libya.

TRIPOLI, Oct 27 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Libya is set to restart the last of its major oil fields following a ceasefire in its civil war.

The state energy firm lifted force majeure on exports from El Feel on Monday.

The OPEC member has mostly been offline since January.

The move will help the attempt by the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation to boost Libyan production to 1 million barrels each day within a month.

Libya has been in chaos since a 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

TRIPOLI, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Sunday that a total of 390 illegal migrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast in the past 48 hours.

"In the past 48 hours, 390 migrants, among them women and children, have been intercepted and returned to Libya," IOM Libya tweeted.

"While our teams are present at disembarkation points to provide emergency assistance, we reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya," IOM Libya said.