Insecurity in Libya

Over the past year, the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli has been urging foreign embassies and international companies, many of which departed amidst significant violence in 2014 and 2015, to resume operations in the country. However, the GNA’s ability to guarantee security – even in the capital, Tripoli – is limited. Libya continues to be politically divided, as two rival governments, the GNA in the west and the Bayda-based authority in the east, vie for political control, while much power lies with hundreds of largely autonomous armed militias present across the country. Incidents of inter-militia fighting and criminality, as well as kidnapping and wrongful detention, remain frequent. 

The vast majority of kidnapping and wrongful detention victims in the country are Libyan nationals – including wealthy individuals, journalists, NGO workers, as well as political and tribal adversaries – and economic migrants from neighbouring countries. Although reliable statistics are not readily available, according to the Interior Ministry, in June 2017 there were 83 kidnappings in Tripoli alone. While there have been few reported incidents involving foreign nationals, this is mainly due to their limited presence in Libya, not a lack of intent on the part of militias and terrorist groups. 

Indeed, a number of foreign nationals have been abducted in recent years. On 14 July 2018, unidentified gunmen entered a control room of El Sharara oilfield in Murzuq desert, and kidnapped a Libyan and a Romanian national. On 6 July, another group of gunmen kidnapped three Filipinos and one Korean technician from a plant of the Great Man-Made River project in southern Libya. In early March 2018, an armed group kidnapped a Pakistani oil engineer near Ubari, southern Libya, holding him for three days. In November 2017, four contractors – three Turkish and one South African – were kidnapped in Ubari; they were released in June 2018. Additionally, in September 2016, two Italians and a Canadian working on an airport project were kidnapped by assailants in Ghat, southern Libya, and released two months later. It is not clear whether a ransom was paid to secure their release. 

While these incidents occurred in the largely lawless regions of southern Libya, where militias and criminals outnumber security personnel, the threat is also pronounced in the Oil Crescent and Sirte Basin. Despite the ousting of Islamic State (IS) from its Sirte stronghold in December 2016, the group has experienced a minor resurgence since August 2017. It has conducted at least a dozen attacks, primarily against security forces and, to a lesser extent, oil infrastructure, in the region. Although there is considerable uncertainty regarding IS’s exact capability, rumours have been circulating of a planned large-scale attack in the Oil Crescent. Precedent suggests that successful attacks are likely to result in the hostage-taking or killing of local and foreign oil workers. 

Thus, despite the overtures of the GNA, there is no indication that the overall security situation will improve in the coming months. A rush to hold elections later this year threatens to further exacerbate political divisions, especially when there is little national consensus on state-building initiatives. As such, kidnappings, arbitrary detentions and illicit activities will very likely persist. 

Foreign nationals are advised to exercise caution and procure the services of professional risk management companies should they consider travelling to or conducting business in Libya. Foreign nationals should also undertake thorough due diligence of risk management companies before enlisting their services and avoid using local militias for security planning and procedures.