Day: October 1, 2017

UN says Libya rivals made progress in Tunis talks

BGMN

Representatives of Libya’s rival authorities have made progress on amending a deal on a political transition for the North African country, the special UN envoy said on Sunday. UN envoy Ghassan Salame opened new talks in Tunisia between the rival Libyan administrations on Tuesday, less than a week after presenting a plan to end the chaos in the conflict-wracked country. Years of political turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi have left Libya divided between rival governments and beset by violence as militia forces battle for power.…

As political parities gather in Tunisia for UN-brokered agreement, war rages on in west Libya

BGMN

Military conflict and intense fighting have entered the third week in the coastal city of Sabratha, leaving about 26 persons killed, 170 injured and thousands displaced, according to Health Ministry and the Libyan Red crescent. Sabratha is a very crucial regional and coastal city both for Libya and for Europe. It is number one destination for illegal immigrants and it harbors the most powerful human trafficking networks, besides being a Roman relic. Since mid-September, clashes erupted between Al-Wadi (or Fighting IS) Operations Room and Brigade 48, which are both under…

Tunisia rescues 140 migrants off its coast

BGMN

The Tunisian navy rescued 98 Tunisians fleeing to Europe when their boat started to sink off Kerkenah on the southeast coast late on Saturday, the national guard said. Separately, the army said it had arrested 43 illegal migrants rescued from four boats off Zarzis, also on the southeast coast. Tunisia has been praised for its democratic progress after a 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali but successive governments have failed to create jobs for young people, some of whom head illegally to Europe to seek work. Tunisia arrested…

Italy provides 60 million euros to Libya and Tunisia to tackle migration

BGMN

The Italian Foreign Ministry has announced an assistance package of 60 million euros for migration management in Libya and Tunisia to regulate the illegal immigration flows. In a statement, the ministry said that the Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano had planned a 60 million euros in aid to Libya and Tunisia as significant states in terms of controlling the flow of illegal immigration, adding that the ministry urged Italian NGOs capable of working in crisis areas to provide professional input through coordinating with the Libyan authorities and local NGOs. Libya Observer