From Al-Awaynat to Cairo: Beyond Silent Messages
What happened in Al-Awaynat on January 9th cannot be separated from Saddam Haftar’s visit to Cairo just two days later. Saddam Haftar’s Visit: A Summons, Not a Courtesy CallIt was against this backdrop that Saddam Haftar’s visit to Cairo on January 11th occurred. Egypt had previously attempted to bring Burhan and Haftar together, urging Haftar to cut ties with the Rapid Support Forces. He denied everything, despite mounting evidence: international reports, satellite imagery, and flight-tracking data showing weapons and fuel moving from Kufra through Al-Awaynat. The strike in Al-Awaynat was the opening of a message; the Cairo visit was its conclusion.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 12:44 UTC
Health Ministry approves national midwifery and nursing policy
The Ministry of Health has approved a national policy for midwifery and nursing services, the first nationwide framework aimed at regulating and developing the two professions across the country. The policy was endorsed by the undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Mohamed Al-Ghoj. Officials said the policy was developed following extensive analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on health and wellbeing. The strategy aims to strengthen leadership in nursing and midwifery at the level of public policy, academic training and clinical practice. It also seeks to reorganise the professions in line with international standards, with the stated goal of improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services across all levels of Libya’s health system.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 12:42 UTC
NOC reviews 2025 output plan with Repsol, outlines 2026 targets
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Masoud Suleiman reviewed the results of the company’s 2025 production plan in talks with Repsol’s Libya chief, Michael Ercíaga, according to the government Hakomitna platform. The meeting also examined the main features and targets of the 2026 production plan, including output forecasts. Discussions covered exploration activity in the Dor Al-Qassa and Al-Jaghboub areas, reservoir unification, and the I&R development plan, alongside longer-term goals to bolster reserves and expand exploration capacity. The two sides addressed service-related matters and corporate social responsibility, including an agreement for the operation of Ubari Hospital, underscoring support for communities near oil-producing areas.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 11:33 UTC
NOC, Eni discuss gas sales agreements
The Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Masoud Suleiman, held talks with Giovanni Mercuri, General Manager of Eni North Africa – Libya Branch, on gas sales agreements between the two sides. According to a statement issued by the NOC, the meeting focused on reviewing work progress at Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, a joint venture between the NOC and the Italian company Eni, as well as development projects in the offshore Area (D). Both sides stressed the importance of coordination with the relevant departments to ensure smooth operations and the implementation of projects in line with the approved timelines.
Source:Libya Observer
January 16, 2026 18:54 UTC
Mass Grave Containing 21 Bodies Of Migrant Found In Libya
Libyan authorities have uncovered a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, local media reported Thursday. Libya is a key transit country for thousands of migrants attempting to reach Europe each year, with deaths among migrants frequently reported. The Internal Security Agency for Libya’s east said it had “discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 individuals of various African nationalities”, according to television channel al-Masar. Photos and video circulated by local media outlets showed bodies piled together and more than a dozen body bags laid out on the ground. Libya has struggled to recover from chaos that erupted after a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 overthrew longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2026 19:47 UTC
Government ordered to pay €5,000 compensation over unlawful detention of teenage migrant
After four days in hospital, he was transferred first to the Ħal Far reception centre, and later to the Ħal Safi detention centre. A representative from the Superintendence of Public Health testified Fona and others arriving from a so-called “red zone” without medical documentation were subjected to a movement restriction order. The court also found that the Superintendent of Public Health acted lawfully in issuing the movement restriction order. While Fona failed to prove any direct financial loss, the court awarded €5,000 in non-pecuniary damages, to be paid by the State Advocate on behalf of the government. Lawyer Neil Falzon represented Ayoubah Fona, while lawyers Miguel De Gabriele, from the Office of the State Advocate, and Chris Ellul appeared for the respondents.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2026 16:00 UTC
Menfi appoints adviser on national reconciliation
The Presidential Council (PC) head, Mohamed Menfi, has appointed Ali Al-Salabi as his adviser on national reconciliation. The move comes days after Menfi endorsed the National Charter for Reconciliation, describing it as the start of a new phase requiring concrete steps to turn its principles into daily reality for citizens. Al-Salabi is a member of the General Secretariat of the International Union of Muslim Scholars and has been involved in political initiatives linked to Libya’s reconciliation efforts.
Source:Libya Observer
January 15, 2026 15:32 UTC
Libyan Businessman Receives Shipment of Nokia Flip-Phones 16 Years After Ordering Them
Libya has been torn apart by civil war for over 15 years, with even the most basic services disrupted to the point that they become useless. Case in point, the story of a mobile phone dealer based in Tripoli, who recently received a shipment of Nokia push-button phones that he had ordered back in 2010, before the civil war began. His order included high-end models of the late 2000s, like Communicator-type devices and stylish sliding handhelds, all of which are obsolete by today’s standards. The Libyan businessman’s order was stalled due to the 2011 civil war, which paralyzed Libya’s logistics and customs services. Ironically, both the vendor and the recipient of the phones are located in Tripoli, just a few kilometers apart, yet the order required 16 years to be completed.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2026 14:19 UTC
Education Supervision of Tripoli Center organizes a dialogue session on educational school media
Tripoli – Central Tripoli’s Education and Teaching Oversight organized a dialogue session today. The session focused on educational school media. Its slogan was “Our Media, Our School’s Mirror.” This event was part of the First Educational Media Exhibition. Another topic was school media as an extracurricular subject. This dialogue session aims to spread educational school media.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2026 11:04 UTC
Libya finds mass grave of human trafficking victims in Ajdabiya
Libyan security forces in the city of Ajdabiya have uncovered a mass grave containing the remains of 21 people from different African nationalities, identified as victims of human trafficking networks. The discovery followed a security operation and wide-ranging investigations that led to the arrest of a Libyan suspect accused of killing the victims. Several mass graves were found, containing victims who were killed in cold blood. Investigations pointed to a Libyan national with a criminal record, suspected of sheltering undocumented migrants as part of activities linked to human trafficking. Following a raid on the farm by the Ajdabiya branch of the Internal Security Agency, with support from Brigade 166, security forces found several victims suffering from gunshot wounds and in critical condition.
Source:Libya Today
January 15, 2026 10:50 UTC
Prosecutors detain foreign national over forged civil registry records
The public prosecution has ordered the detention of a foreign national and the arrest of a civil registry employee in the eastern city of Al-Marj over the alleged forgery of family records that enabled at least 10 foreigners to obtain national identification numbers. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Office of the Attorney General said the foreign national colluded with an employee at the Al-Marj civil registry office to use a family registration number belonging to a family line that had ceased to exist since 1989. The forged family record allowed 10 foreigners to secure national ID numbers and benefit from rights associated with Libyan citizenship, the statement said. The committee investigating civil status data forgery within the jurisdiction of the Al-Bayda Court of Appeal ordered the foreign suspect to be held pending investigation. Prosecutors also ordered the suspension of all documents issued on the basis of the forged record and the arrest of the civil registry employee for questioning.
Source:Libya Observer
January 14, 2026 20:05 UTC
CBL agrees monetary and trade reform package
Libya’ Central Bank (CBL) says it is facing mounting challenges in maintaining monetary stability and the exchange rate, as political instability and weak fiscal discipline continue to weigh on the economy. In a statement on Tuesday, the CBL said its Monetary Policy Committee held its first meeting of 2026, reviewing measures taken last year, developments in the economy, foreign currency use and expected challenges in the months ahead. The committee discussed tighter regulation and supervision of currency exchange activities to improve discipline and transparency in the foreign exchange market. It also examined risks linked to rising public spending and growing public debt, and their impact on foreign reserves. The bank said the committee approved a package of monetary and trade policy reforms aimed at supporting market stability, curbing the parallel market and protecting reserves.
Source:Libya Observer
January 14, 2026 20:00 UTC
Arrest of suspect accused of killing 21 illegal migrants in Ajdabiya
The Internal Security Agency, Ajdabiya branch, announced on Tuesday the discovery of several mass graves containing the bodies of 21 people of various nationalities, who were killed by an individual with a criminal record. According to a statement by the agency, security forces raided the suspect’s farm after gathering information and confirming his involvement in the crime and arrested him. The statement noted that several people of various African nationalities were found being held on the farm, some of whom had been shot and were in poor health, confirming that they were transferred to Ajdabiya Teaching Hospital.
Source:Libya Observer
January 14, 2026 19:22 UTC
Decline in trade between Libya and Italy in 2025
Trade between Libya and Italy declined during the first nine months of 2025 due to a drop in crude oil imports, coinciding with the launching of new economic cooperation and infrastructure projects in western and eastern Libya, according to Italy’s Nova Agency. Nova reported that Italy’s imports from Libya amounted to €4.64 billion, representing a year-on-year decrease of 19.3%. Libyan oil exports accounted for €4.25 billion, followed by natural gas at €251 million, and refined petroleum products at €98 million. Italian exports to Libya also saw a slight decline, totaling €1.44 billion during the same period, according to the agency. Data indicate that total bilateral trade reached €6.08 billion, down 18.4% from €7.46 billion in the same period of 2024.
Source:Libya Observer
January 14, 2026 16:28 UTC
Minister of Economy Hwej meets UK Ambassador to Libya to discuss trade and investment cooperation
The Ministry of Economy and Trade reported today that its Minister, Mohamed Al-Hwej, met at the Ministry’s Tripoli headquarters with the UK Ambassador to Libya, Martin Reynolds, to discuss aspects of trade and investment cooperation between the two countries. He also called for strengthening cooperation with the Tripoli based Libyan government and supporting its efforts to achieve political and security stability, which would contribute to implementing the government’s plan for developing and diversifying the national economy. UK support for political, security and economic stabilityFor his part, the Ministry reported, the British Ambassador affirmed the Kingdom’s support for the efforts of the Tripoli government, which contribute to achieving political, security, and economic stability in Libya. He noted the Embassy’s Trade Office’s readiness to enhance cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Trade to improve the business environment in the Libyan market, thereby encouraging British investors to establish long-term partnerships in areas of mutual interest. He also directed the strengthening of cooperation between the relevant departments and offices within the Ministry and the Trade Office at the UK Embassy on joint economic and investment matters.
Source:Libya Today
January 14, 2026 13:48 UTC