Maghreb Edition

Moscow’s possible lifting of arms embargo on Libya could trigger new violence, setback to Western interestsF

Posted On 10 January 2017

Number of times this article was read : 319

The North Africa Journal | Jan. 10, 2017 | Hakim Briki:  For the period of January 02 to 08, 2017, there were 30 critical incidents in Libya, resulting in 38 deaths. As a result, the MEA Risk Incidents Index for the period was 2.2. The index measures the extent of the instability on a scale of 0.5 to 5, where 0.5 means the country or region are risk free, and 5 meaning the region qualifies as a failed state. As such, Libya remains a Severe/High-Risk zone, with terror-related incidents accounting for almost 27% of the total pool of incidents.  The most interesting event of the week was the announcement by Marshal Khalifa Haftar that Vladimir Putin has confirmed his commitment to lifting the arms embargo on Libya. The Russian president has yet to confirm this, but Russia has recently voiced its support to the unrecognized eastern government.

Premium subscriber, continue here  or click here to subscribe

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Southern Libya Boils Over: Three Haftar Soldiers Killed in Border Raid Near Niger✓

Three soldiers loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar were killed and several others captured in coordinated attacks on border posts near Niger, underscoring how southern Libya has become a key fault line in the country’s fractured security landscape. Fighters claiming to represent “revolutionaries of the South” say they are targeting Haftar’s forces over dire living conditions and alleged resource plunder, as cross-border armed groups test the limits of state control from Al-Tum to the Salvador Pass.

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years✓

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years✓

Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party, has had his prison sentence increased to 20 years in a case known as “Conspiracy 2,” pushing his cumulative jail time from multiple convictions to more than four decades. His defense team says he will not seek a final appeal, denouncing the charges as politically driven and warning that the ruling deepens Tunisia’s crackdown on organized opposition.

Written by The NAJ

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.