Maghreb Edition

Libya: Concern over increase in Mediterranean Sea crossing from LibyaF

Posted On 22 November 2019

Number of times this article was read : 430

The UN voiced alarm Friday at a “spike” in migrant boats departing from Libya this week, following fresh raids around the capital Tripoli. “In the span of 48 hours, at least nine boats carrying more than 600 migrants have been discovered on the central Mediterranean route,” which connects Libya to Italy, the International Organization for Migration said in a statement. It added that “this apparent spike in departures” comes as Tripoli and the surrounding area face renewed heavy shelling.

IOM spokeswoman Safa Msehli said five of the boats were rescued by ships operated by two NGOs — Ocean Viking and Open Arms — and four others were sent back to Libya. A tenth boat, with 74 people on board, reached the Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday.  “IOM is deeply concerned about the safety of migrants who are vulnerable to clashes, human trafficking and abuse as the security situations further deteriorates,” the agency’s chief of mission in Libya, Federico Soda, said in a statement.

Libya has been mired in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The UN-recognised Government of National Accord is contested by a parallel administration in the east, backed by Khalifa Haftar. Haftar launched an offensive on April 4 with his self-proclaimed Libyan National Army to take the capital, but the conflict’s frontlines have moved little.

By AFP

Subscribe to Urgent Notifications and Newsletter

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Gulf War Escalates as Energy Markets Reel and Regional Fronts MultiplyF

The war involving Iran, Israel, and the United States is expanding across the Middle East, with growing consequences for global energy markets and regional security. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure have pushed oil prices higher and raised concerns about supply stability. As missile exchanges intensify and fighting spreads to Lebanon, world leaders are scrambling to assess the economic fallout and prevent further escalation.

West Africa: Jihadist Attacks Intensify in Northern Benin Amid Cross-Border Insurgency PressureF

Jihadist attacks in northern Benin have intensified in recent weeks, with militants linked to JNIM claiming a deadly assault on a military position near the Niger border and carrying out additional raids on security posts along the country’s volatile frontiers with Burkina Faso and Nigeria. The violence underscores how northern Benin has become part of a wider cross-border insurgency spilling south from the central Sahel, even as authorities bolster Operation Mirador and try to prevent armed groups from entrenching themselves on Beninese soil.

Desert Locusts Stir Fresh Worries in North-West AfricaF

Small desert locust swarms recently detected along the western Sahara corridor have prompted stepped-up monitoring across parts of North and West Africa, where shifting rainfall can quickly turn quiet desert areas into launchpads for wider infestations.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.