On 18 March, ISIS spokesman released a new speech which includes comments on fighters in Libya. On 13 March, Morocco’s BCIJ arrested a six member terrorist cell, with one of the terror suspects having been previously imprisoned over connections to ISIS in Libya. On 8 March, French newspaper Liberation published an article suggesting that a senior figure of ISIS may have visited Libya in April 2017.
Day: March 19, 2019
13 March – 19 March: French Foreign Minister praises progress against terrorist groups in Libya’s south
On 18 March, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Tripoli and praised the “significant progress” made by Haftar in southern Libya “in the face of terrorist groups, organised criminals and armed foreign groups.”
13 March – 19 March: UN announces National Conference will take place in Ghadames on 14-16 April
On 20 March, the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, announced that the UN National Conference will take place in Ghadames on 14-16 April. On 13 March, several ambassadors met with GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj and members of the HCS. On 18 March, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian visited Tripoli. On 19 March, US ambassador to Libya Peter Bodde and US AFRICOM commander Thomas Waldhauser flew into Tripoli to meet with Serraj. On 16 March, Deputy UN Envoy Stephanie Williams made a visit to the electoral district of Aziziyya, south-west of Tripoli.
13 March – 19 March: Eastern-based Interim government launches new security operation
On 17 March, the eastern-based Interim government’s launched a security operation to remove “terrorists and criminals” from Libya’s South. On 13 March, al-Bunyan al-Marsous spokesman stated that an attack on Sirte by the LNA would be a declaration of war. On 15 March, the LNA released three Zawiyyan prisoners from Qirnada Prison in eastern Libya. On 18 March, the PC has agreed on a budget of around 48.6 billion LYD for 2019.