Syria seizes 26,000 Captagon pills bound for Saudi Arabia at Hama bus station
The operation highlights the continued challenges facing authorities even as they claim to have dismantled all known production facilities across the country. Enforcement efforts yield mixed resultsIn early June, Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab announced that all known Captagon production facilities had been dismantled. Later that month, security forces confiscated approximately 3 million pills and 50 kilograms of hashish following an armed confrontation with smugglers near the Lebanese border. Another 1.7 million pills were seized in eastern Daraa province, already packed for smuggling. In October, Syrian officials confiscated 11 million pills from a vehicle entering southern Homs from Lebanon.
Source:Libya Today
December 21, 2025 01:27 UTC
Pakistan and Libya: defence diplomacy
He exercises executive authority formed in March 2021 through a UN-facilitated process (Libyan Political Dialogue Forum), but this authority is politically contested and territorially constrained. The PM does not control Eastern Libya, where FM Haftar enjoys political and military influence. The Pakistan military can contribute to the training of Libyan officers, pilots, engineers and units of logistics. Pakistan must carefully engage and keep a balance in its relationship with Libya under FM Haftar and Turkey. Pakistan must also demonstrate to Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt that it respects their security concerns in Libya.
Source:Libya Today
December 20, 2025 22:10 UTC
Ministry of Finance and OPEC Fund agree on public employee training
The Ministry of Finance of the Government of National Unity has signed an agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development to implement a capacity-building and on-the-job training programme for employees of the Ministry and its affiliated entities. The programme aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of public employees by strengthening their technical and professional capabilities in areas related to development finance and financial engineering, according to a post on the "Our Government" platform's Facebook page. The programme is expected to contribute to supporting institutional reform efforts and improving public sector performance
Source:Libya Observer
December 20, 2025 17:32 UTC
Royal Air Maroc to launch direct Casablanca-Tripoli route
Royal Air Maroc has announced the launch of a direct air route connecting Casablanca and Tripoli, starting March 31st, with two weekly flights operating every Saturday and Tuesday using a Boeing 737 aircraft. The launch of this route comes as part of the company's plan to expand its international network and strengthen air connectivity between Morocco and a number of regional and international capitals, thus facilitating travel and supporting economic and tourism exchange, according to Royal Air Maroc. Royal Air Maroc CEO Hamid Addou had previously revealed in statements to the Moroccan website LRAM the company's intention to launch flights to Libya, as part of a broader programme that includes launching new direct routes to destinations in Europe, Africa, and America, thereby strengthening the national carrier's position as a hub connecting different continents.
Source:Libya Observer
December 20, 2025 17:22 UTC
UNSC Urges Libya Election Progress, End to Foreign Meddling
Municipal council elections were successfully held in 16 municipalities on 18 October, with a voter turnout of 68 per cent - "these elections are a welcome step in restoring the legitimacy of local governance". On travel-ban measures, he said the Committee approved a humanitarian exemption for one individual in response to a request submitted by Libya. He demanded the immediate withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya. China's delegate also stressed that the overseas assets of Libya are the commonwealth of its people and must not be abused. Several Council members called on Libyan political actors to engage constructively with the road map put forward by UNSMIL, while consolidating security gains.
Source:Libya Today
December 20, 2025 08:44 UTC
Security Council Calls for Progress on Libya’s Political Road Map and Cessation of Foreign Interference
Libya’s journey towards holding elections is mired in significant challenges, according to the Chief of the UN Mission in the country. Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, highlighted the difficulties in implementing the political roadmap presented to the UN Security Council in August. Challenges in the Political RoadmapThe political landscape in Libya remains complex and fraught with obstacles. Tetteh pointed out that the implementation of the political roadmap has proven to be quite challenging. The delegate emphasized the need for a unified approach to reconstitute the High National Elections Commission and suggested exploring alternative solutions to hold elections if delays continue.
Source:Libya Today
December 20, 2025 02:18 UTC
Libya, Tetteh at the UN: "Elections are being delayed." An alternative is ready for February.
The political process in Libya remains stalled by institutional delays and deep divisions, while serious security, economic, and human rights challenges persist. This was reported today to the United Nations Security Council by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the UN Security Council Mission (UNSMIL). Two days later, the HNC declared its willingness to begin preparations for presidential and legislative elections starting in April 2026. The initiative brought together 124 Libyan figures representing state institutions, civil society, political parties, academia, and cultural and linguistic communities. Tetteh stated that she remains "deeply concerned" about violations, including violence against women, migrants, and minorities, and deaths in custody.
Source:Libya Today
December 19, 2025 21:50 UTC
Egypt announces deaths of 27 citizens off Greek coast
Egypt has announced the deaths of 27 of its citizens, including young people and minors, after an illegal migration boat sank off the Greek coast south of the island of Crete. The boat had departed from Libya. The announcement was made by the Egyptian Ambassador to Greece, Omar Amer. The Egyptian Embassy in Athens also published, on its official Facebook page, the names of 14 victims whose identities have been confirmed. The embassy stated that it is continuing to follow up on the consequences of the incident, which occurred on December 7, involving an illegal migration boat heading from a neighboring country, in reference to Libya, toward Greece.
Source:Libya Observer
December 19, 2025 21:20 UTC
Structured Dialogue: Crisis Management or the Illusion of a Solution?
Rather than pushing toward a clear political settlement, the mission appears content with managing a fragile balance through repeated dialogue tracks that do not lead to binding decisions or genuine accountability. The greater concern lies in the clear overlap between these governmental maneuvers and the “structured dialogue” process sponsored by the United Nations. Launching a dialogue process that extends for months, followed by the formation of additional committees, would in practice postpone any decisive entitlement and might secure the continuation of the current executive authority until mid-2026. State-building is not achieved by changing faces or prolonging processes, but by ending the duality of power and returning decision-making to the people through a clear and well-defined political process. Without this, Libya will remain hostage to deferred solutions crafted beyond its borders, while what remains of its institutions continues to erode from within.
Source:Libya Observer
December 19, 2025 21:12 UTC
Woman and two daughters killed in Tripoli house collapse
A woman and her two daughters have died after a house collapsed in Tripoli’s Old City, police said. Emergency services and security forces were dispatched to the scene, where legal procedures were carried out. Earlier, ambulance officials reported three people injured in the incident, two of them critically, after part of a residential building collapsed in the historic district.
Source:Libya Observer
December 19, 2025 20:24 UTC
CBL Governor urges executive authorities to take measures to close unlicensed foreign exchange bureaux, prohibit imports outside the banking system
Prohibiting imports and exports except through banking transactionsThe CBL Governor also addressed PM Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, urging him to direct the Ministry of Economy to issue a decree prohibiting import and exports except through banking transactions. Implementing genuine economic reformsThe Central Bank has also continued to urge all relevant parties to implement genuine economic reforms to improve the economic situation and benefit citizens’ living standards. This includes proposing a package of measures to raise the value of the Libyan dinar, ensure the availability of cash liquidity, and reduce the general price level and inflation rate. Governor Issa’s promises unfulfilledIt will be recalled that CBL Governor Naji Issa had promised in August this year that the LD will strengthen to under LD 7 per dollar on the black-market and that the cash crises will end by 1 October this year. Neither aims have been achieved.
Source:Libya Today
December 19, 2025 18:23 UTC
Ministries of Economy and Planning discuss the draft indicative import budget for 2026
The Tripoli based Libyan government announced today that Minister of Economy and Trade, Mohamed Al-Hwej, and the Acting Minister of Planning, Mohammed Al-Zeidani, held a meeting to discuss the draft import indicative budget for 2026, in the presence of the undersecretaries of the ministries and directors concerned with trade and planning files.The meeting dealt with the mechanisms of regulating imports according to the priorities of the national economy in accordance with the Commercial Law, and aims to achieve price stability and control the demand for foreign currency, while supporting local production and national industries.The Minister of Planning referred to the results of a comprehensive national survey carried out by the Statistics and Census Department, which clarifies the conditions of households and the consumption patterns of basic goods and services, and is considered a reference for formulating public policies and supporting financial and economic planning.The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, Suhail Abu Shiha, stressed the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of Planning to ensure the transparency and efficiency of the import department, and to rely on official data as a basis for formulating economic policies.The meeting concluded by confirming the completion of the project within the specified timetable, in coordination with the concerned authorities and the Central Bank of Libya, to enhance economic and food security.BackgroundIt will be recalled that the meeting comes on the back of several recent meetings by the Economy Ministry, the Prime Minister and the Central Bank of Libya. These come with the background of global prices of a barrel of oil (Brent Crude) falling to US$ 55, negatively affecting the Libyan state’s main revenue, the Libyan dinar on the black-market at one stage last Wednesday falling to LD 8.40 per US$, putting further pressure on rising commodity prices, and the continuing cash crisis at Libyan banks. Minister of Economy and Trade chairs technical meeting to prepare Libya’s trade policy for 2026PM Aldabaiba meets CBL Governor Issa to follow up on financial situation and efforts to ensure provision of cash and improve level of banking servicesCBL issues new licenses to another 91 FX Bureaux – but no announcement of when they may start trading as the LD plunges to 8.17 per dollarCBL Governor Issa vows to end Libya’s liquidity crisis by 1 OctoberCBL to bring FX rate of dinar to less than LD 7 per US$: CBL Governor IssaThere is no political will to implement subsidy reform: Former CBL Board Member and Deputy Finance Minister GhaitLack of control of state spending and the de facto existence of two governments in Libya negatively affects the CBL’s effectiveness: CBL Board MemberThe 6th Banking Sector Development Forum will be held in Tunis from 7 to 8 DecemberCBL Governor Issa announces three strategic initiatives to build a stronger banking sector at 6th Banking Sector Development Forum in Tunis 7 to 9 DecemberWorld Bank to participate in 4th Annual Libya Banking Development Forum4th Banking Sector Development Forum to be held in Tripoli in October 2022 (libyaherald.com)Annual Libyan Banking Sector Development Forum to be held in Tunis (libyaherald.com)Libya’s Banking Sector Development Forum welcomes CBL audit, insists on new meritocratic board of directors (libyaherald.com)SME finance, a new airline, a public transport service and a union of private banks announced at second banking forum (libyaherald.com)Second Libyan banking forum to be held in Benghazi (libyaherald.com)CBL instructs banks, fuel distribution companies and the bakeries’ union to increase the use of e-payments
Source:Libya Today
December 19, 2025 17:12 UTC
Libya: UN envoy briefs Security Council today on political roadmap
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Hannah Tetteh, This afternoon, Tetteh will brief the Security Council on the latest developments in Libya. According to a notice issued by the Mission, the briefing is scheduled for 16:00 PM (Rome time) and will be broadcast live. The bimonthly briefing will provide Tetteh with the opportunity to update the Council not only on the status of the political process, but also on the evolving security situation and humanitarian challenges. In this context, the United Nations is also calling for measures to consolidate stability, especially in Tripoli and the west of the country, through operational agreements and broader security sector reforms. Alongside the political dossier, Guterres' report highlights growing humanitarian pressure, particularly for Sudanese refugees: approximately 412 Sudanese citizens, mostly women and children, are currently in Libya, while the humanitarian response remains severely underfunded.
Source:Libya Today
December 19, 2025 13:52 UTC
Arab Women Organization holds workshop on impact of conflicts
The Executive Council of the Arab Women Organization has launched a regional study workshop titled “The Impact of Wars and Armed Conflicts on Women and Girls in the Arab World.”The workshop was launched during a meeting of the Council held in the capital, Tripoli, chaired by the Minister of State for Women’s Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Houriya Al-Tarmal. Al-Tarmal affirmed that Libya’s hosting of this meeting and workshop reflects the commitment of member states to supporting women’s issues and strengthening joint Arab action to confront the challenges associated with wars and conflicts. She stressed the importance of protecting and empowering women and girls and enhancing their participation across various fields. The minister also emphasized the need to translate the outcomes of the meeting and workshop into practical, implementable programs, and to strengthen coordination among member states and regional and international organizations to ensure a tangible impact on the lives of women and girls in the Arab region. The meeting and workshop are attended by representatives from ten Arab countries—Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine, and Morocco; along with more than 250 participants, including 26 foreign figures comprising officials, politicians, and international experts in women’s issues, as well as 30 Libyan politicians and experts.
Source:Libya Observer
December 19, 2025 00:04 UTC
At least 28 killed in airstrike in Libya
The Libyan government, which is backed by the United Nations, says at least 28 people have been killed and dozens more injured in an air strike on a military school in the capital, Tripoli. "An airstrike on a military school in Tripoli has killed 28 cadets and wounded dozens more," said Amin al-Hashemi, a spokesman for the Health Ministry. The Tripoli-based government has blamed the attack on the Libyan National Army, which did not immediately respond to these accusations, Rel writes. Tripoli has been the scene of fierce fighting since April 2019, between internationally-backed government forces and fighters of the Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Haftar. On January 3, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres again called for a ceasefire in Libya and urged all parties involved in the conflict to return to the negotiating table in an effort to end the conflict in Libya.
Source:Libya Today
December 18, 2025 23:46 UTC