Derna Shura Council vows to hand over body of pro-Haftar pilot
Derna Shura Council said Sunday that it would hand over the body of the pilot Adel Al-Jahani to a committee of the city's elders, which will coordinate with his family for taking the body. "We have been keeping Al-Jahani's body for ten days as a tit-for-tat reaction as Dignity Operation had kept the body of one of our fighters for more than two weeks, let alone crucifying him." The Derna Shura Council added in its statement. It explained as well that it kept the body without doing it any harm, unlike what Dignity Operation forces did to the council's fighters. Meanwhile, Derna elders and dignitaries council announced earlier the formation of a committee to receive the body of the pilot, who was killed as his fighter jet was downed on August 02 by Derna Shura Council.
Source:Libya Observer
August 13, 2017 18:56 UTC
Italy applauds Libya's decision on migrant 'search and rescue'
The Italian today welcomed Libya's decision to bar foreign vessels from a stretch of water off its coast, as both countries struggle with a migrant crisis that has engulfed in recent years. The Libyan "is ready to put in place a search and rescue zone in its waters, work with and invest in its coastguards," Alfano told La Stampa daily today. "We need a significant, I repeat a significant European economic investment in Libya and in Africa," Alfano said." has to decide if the theme of migration flows is an absolute priority on the same scale as the economy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source:Libya Today
August 13, 2017 15:00 UTC
Libya beats Algeria, nears qualification to 2018 African Nations Championship
The Libyan national football team won 2-1 over Algeria at Al-Shahid Hamlawi Stadium in Algiers as part of the first leg matches of 2018 African Nations Championship, which will be hosted by Kenya. By winning this game, Libya has become closer to qualifying for the sports event, which it won back in 2012. Algeria scored first by Derlofo at the first minute of the match before Al-Ayat tied the score for Libya after a fault done by the Algerian goal keeper, Rahmani. At the minute 47, Libya scored the second and winning goal by Al-Lafi. The second leg match will take place in Sfax, Tunisia on August 18.
Source:Libya Observer
August 13, 2017 15:00 UTC
Italy applauds Libya's decision on migrant 'search and rescue' zone — Nigeria Today
Italy applauds Libya’s decision on migrant ‘search and rescue’ zoneThe Italian government on Sunday welcomed Libya’s decision to bar foreign vessels from a stretch of water off its coast, as both countries struggle with a migrant crisis that has engulfed Europe in recent years. The Libyan government “is ready to put in place a search and rescue zone in its waters, work with Europe and invest in its coastguards,” Alfano told La Stampa daily on Sunday. “We need a significant, I repeat a significant European economic investment in Libya and in Africa,” Alfano said. The Libyan measure prompted the German aid group Sea Eye to announce on Sunday it is suspending its migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean, citing security concerns. Some 600,000 mostly African migrants have arrived in Italy from Libya since the start of 2014.
Source:Libya Today
August 13, 2017 13:30 UTC
German NGO halts refugee rescue operations off Libya
AdvertisementA German aid group said it was suspending its refugee rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea citing security concerns after Libya barred foreign vessels from a stretch of water off its coast. Sunday’s announcement comes a day after Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was halting the use of its largest boat in the area because of an “increasingly hostile environment for lifesaving rescue operations” of asylum seekers. In a statement, the aid group Sea Eye said it was with “a heavy heart” that it had decided to follow suit after the Libyan government’s “explicit threat against the private NGOs”. It would be irresponsible towards our crews,” Sea Eye founder Michael Buschheuer said. Sea Eye says it has helped save some 12,000 lives since April 2016.
Source:Libya Today
August 13, 2017 12:33 UTC
German NGO Sea Eye halts migrant rescue operations off Libya
BERLIN: The German aid group Sea Eye on Sunday said it was suspending its migrant rescue operations in the Mediterranean, citing security concerns after Libya barred foreign vessels from a stretch of water off its coast. The announcement comes a day after Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was halting the use of its largest boat in the area because of an "increasingly hostile environment for lifesaving rescue operations". It would be irresponsible towards our crews," Sea Eye founder Michael Buschheuer said. Sea Eye said it would continue to monitor the "changed security situation" off the Libyan coast. (AFP)Migrant aid ships have played a key role in assisting the rescue operations, and Sea Eye says it has helped save some 12,000 lives since April 2016.
Source:Libya Today
August 13, 2017 09:45 UTC
Libya’s military strongman Haftar to meet Russian FM Lavrov in Moscow
General Khalifa Haftar, the Egypt-linked Libyan military commander, is arriving in Moscow on Saturday for a series of meetings with Russian diplomatic and military figures. Haftar is to meet on Monday Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and possibly some senior officials from the Defense Ministry, Lev Dengov, Russian special envoy for Libya, told RIA Novosti. This applies to Italy and any other country,” Haftar told Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera. Dengov said Russia is involved in mediation between Haftar and Sarraj, who visited Moscow in early March. On our part we are trying to help the parties agree and bring peace to Libya,” the Russian diplomat said.
Source:Libya Today
August 12, 2017 16:41 UTC
Lavrov, Libyan National Army Head to Hold Talks Monday - Russian Contact Group
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army, is supposed to arrive in Moscow later on Saturday, and hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday, head of the Russian contact group on intra-Libyan settlement Lev Dengov told Sputnik. MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The information about Haftar’s other possible meetings, including the one with representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry, is yet to be confirmed, Dengov added. His plane is delayed… Only the Monday meeting with [Russian Foreign] Minister [Lavrov] has been confirmed so far," Lev Dengov said. Previously Dengov had said that Russia wanted to renew infrastructure and energy contracts it signed with Libya under deposed leader Muammar Gaddafi. The parliament is backed by the Libyan National Army headed by Khalifa Haftar.
Source:Libya Today
August 12, 2017 13:07 UTC
Trauma of West African migrants worries IOM
AdvertisementThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) has released the list of `trauma experiences’ of migrants who are passing through its transit centres in West Africa. The new report through its Niger Republic office was released following the profiling of many of the migrants. IOM said most of the migrants were West African nationals who arrived in IOM transit centres, having resided in Algeria or Libya, largely with the intention of returning to their countries of origin. “Almost half of the migrants assisted across the four transit centres in 2016 came from Guinea (24 per cent) and Senegal (21 per cent). Advertisement“The interviews bring evidence of the lack of economic opportunities for many West and Central African migrants.
Source:Libya Today
August 12, 2017 06:45 UTC
Libya to deport 540 Nigerians in August – NAPTIP
AdvertisementThe National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), yesterday said 540 Nigerian deported from Libya will arrive Lagos this August. Giving a further breakdown of the ills of human trafficking and its effects on the society, she said out of the 540 to be deported, 180 had already arrived. She said, “In 2017, we have witnessed mass deportation of Nigerians from various countries including Libya. It may interest you to note that we are expecting the deportation of no fewer than 540 Nigerians from Libya in three batches this August. We have known she will get to this level because of the passion she has for stopping human trafficking.
Source:Libya Today
August 12, 2017 06:11 UTC
UNICEF: Over 500,000 children in Libya need aid
Prime News, International (Tripoli), August 11:- Ongoing conflict and the breakdown of the economy have left more than a half million children in need of humanitarian aid in Libya, according to the United Nations children’s agency. More than 80,000 children are internally displaced and migrant children in Libya are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, including in detention centres,” he added. Mr. Cappelaere pointed out that more than 1.3 million children were vaccinated against polio last year. UNICEF has partnered with 28 municipalities across Libya under the ‘Together for Children’ campaign to support children’s basic rights. In discussions with the authorities in Tripoli and Benghazi, UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to provide all the support possible to reach children in need wherever they are in the country.
Source:Libya Today
August 11, 2017 16:52 UTC
EU to Adopt 'Turkish Scenario' in Migration Deal With Libya - Merkel
The European Union will cooperate with Libya on the migrant and refugee issue, and adopt the same scenario as in the EU-Turkey migration deal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday. We should care about the decent lives of people who return, so that they would individually go thorough all the checks. © AFP 2017/ LOUISA GOULIAMAKI Turkey to Suspend Refugee Deal If EU Declines New Visa-Free Regime Proposal - Minister"We should not focus only on Libya, but on all states on the [migrant] transit route," she added. Libya has been in a state of civil war since its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011. The eastern part of the country is governed by its parliament, with is headquartered in the city of Tobruk.
Source:Libya Today
August 11, 2017 16:07 UTC
Merkel: EU to adopt the Turkish scenario in Libya regarding illegal immigration
The European Union will cooperate with Libya on the migrant and refugee issue, and adopt the same scenario as in the EU-Turkey migration deal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday. In March 2016, the European Union and Turkey agreed that Syrian refugees arriving in Greece would be returned to Turkey if their claim for asylum is rejected, while Syrian asylum seekers in Turkey would be resettled in Europe on a one-for-one basis.
Source:Libya Today
August 11, 2017 16:07 UTC
Eritrean priest responsible for saving thousands in Mediterranean accused of aiding illegal immigration
An Eritrean priest responsible for saving thousands of lives aboard migrant ships in the Mediterranean is being investigated by an Italian public prosecutor for aiding illegal immigration. Father Mussie Zerai, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015, is accused of illegally sending information about boats and landings to NGO rescue ships. A rescue boat of the Spanish NGO Proactiva approaches an overcrowded wooden vessel with migrants from Eritrea, off the Libyan coast in the Mediterranean. In his statement is also responds to allegations from the Eritrean government, of which he is a severe critic. Eritrean priest Mussie Zerai met Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, September 30, 2015.
Source:Libya Today
August 11, 2017 11:32 UTC
128 Nigerian deportees return from Libya
AdvertisementThe National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday received 128 stranded Nigerians who voluntarily returned to the country from Libya. After profiling, NEMA said the returnees were 126 males and two females, among them two females and four males had health issues. There are many opportunities here and the country is gradually getting back on track with greater prospects for every Nigerian to be proud of,” he said. Maihajja said the Federal Government in conjunction with IOM and some state governments were already carrying out rehabilitation programmes for the returnees. “After the programmes, every returnee will be empowered to start a new life with lots of incentives,” he said.
Source:Libya Today
August 11, 2017 07:52 UTC