Detention of an official from the Agency for the Administration of Historic Cities in Benghazi on corruption charges
Benghazi – The Anti-Corruption Prosecution ordered the detention of a director. This director heads the Historic Cities Management Authority branch in the municipality. The order falls under the jurisdiction of the Benghazi Court of Appeal. This area is part of the vegetable market in Benghazi municipality. Therefore, the investigative authority ordered the accused’s precautionary detention.
Source:Libya Today
January 18, 2026 10:31 UTC
Tripoli to host exhibition celebrating Libyan cultural heritage
An art exhibition celebrating Libya’s cultural heritage is set to open in Tripoli’s Old City later this month. Bayt Nuweiji for Culture will host the exhibition, titled “Creative Gene for Libyan Heritage,” on 31 January. The showcase aims to present traditional Libyan heritage through contemporary artistic approaches. The exhibition will feature a range of works, including hand-painted heritage artworks, digital images documenting Libyan cities, and examples of traditional handicrafts reflecting the country’s folk traditions. Organisers say the event seeks to bridge memory and innovation, offering visitors a modern interpretation of Libya’s rich cultural legacy.
Source:Libya Observer
January 18, 2026 10:27 UTC
Libya: MSC and Al Maha sign container terminal agreement in Misurata, Tajani present
The Misrata Free Zone is making a significant leap in its consolidation as Libya's main logistics hub and a link between the Mediterranean and Africa. A high-profile institutional presence is expected in Misrata for the occasion: the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Antonio Tajani; the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani; and the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity Abdulhamid Dabaiba. MSC is expected to participate in Diego Aponte, president of the group, a key figure in global container shipping. The agreement between the Misrata Free Zone and TIL-MSC strengthens the city's position as a hub connecting Europe, the Mediterranean, and Africa.
Source:Libya Today
January 18, 2026 09:10 UTC
ZAWYA-PRESSR: Italy and Libya sign landmark agreements to strengthen health and energy sectors
BENGHAZI, Libya / ROME, Italy — In a key advancement for Italy-Libya bilateral relations, comprehensive agreements were formally signed today in Benghazi between prominent Italian partners San Donato Group, GKSD, and the Libya Reconstruction and Development Fund. Comprehensive Multi-Sector Development InitiativeThe comprehensive agreements address two fundamental pillars of national infrastructure: advanced healthcare delivery systems and modernized energy sector development. The energy sector component focuses on infrastructure rehabilitation, renewable energy integration, and capacity building to support Libya's long-term energy independence and sustainability goals. "We, San Donato Group and GKSD, signed practical agreements with Libya Reconstruction and Development Fund, aimed at supporting and boosting the health and energy sectors, focusing on employing Italian expertise, building capacity, and achieving effective and sustainable cooperation." Libya Reconstruction and Development Fund serves as the primary national coordinating body for reconstruction projects, working to rebuild Libya's infrastructure, strengthen institutions, and facilitate international partnerships that support the country's long-term development goals.
Source:Libya Today
January 18, 2026 07:57 UTC
Dust-raising winds expected in the Northeast on Monday and Tuesday
This is expected to stir up dust and sand, leading to reduced horizontal visibility and, in some areas, near-total loss of visibility. These conditions are expected to cause dense dust and sand, with direct impacts on visibility. The parallel government warned of potential impacts on traffic movement within cities and on highways due to reduced or completely absent visibility during periods of strong winds, in addition to possible disruption to maritime activities during peak times. It urged the public to exercise maximum caution while traveling and to adhere to instructions issued by the relevant authorities. The National Center of Meteorology stressed the need for extra care when driving, especially during strong wind gusts.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 20:54 UTC
Al-Kufra Airport shuts down for a month
The management of Al-Kufra Airport announced on Friday that the airport will be temporarily closed starting Monday, January 19, for a full month, to carry out comprehensive maintenance works on the runway. In a statement, the management said the measure comes as part of efforts to ensure aviation safety and to enhance the airport’s infrastructure, guaranteeing its readiness to receive flights in line with approved standards. It added that the date for reopening the airport will be announced once the maintenance work is completed, through the official page and approved communication channels, according to the statement. The shutdown comes at a sensitive time, weeks after a Reuters report revealed that Al-Kufra Airport’s runway, which is under the control of Khalifa Haftar’s forces, had become a vital channel for the flow of weapons, fuel, and mercenaries to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces. A UN official familiar with the operations described the use of Al-Kufra Airport as having “changed the rules of the game entirely,” pointing to its role in strengthening the siege of the city of El Fasher over an 18-month period, according to Reuters.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 19:00 UTC
GNU discusses strengthening cooperation with Venezuela
Abubakr bin Saud, Director of the Department of Americas Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity, met Saturday with the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Reinaldo José Bolívar, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in various sectors. This meeting took place at the Ministry headquarters, as a prelude to initiating the accreditation process for Bolívar as the non-resident Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the State of Libya, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and posted on its Facebook account.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 16:28 UTC
Exclusive Interview: Dr. Mahmoud Elforjani on Transforming Libya into the World’s Largest Inter-continental Bridge
Our work centres on the principle that development is the driving force for national unity, creating common ground that transcends institutional differences. We rely on this leadership to consolidate security and protect development zones, guided by the motto: “no development without security”. Investors are entering a market undergoing structural reconstruction, offering untapped opportunities and major national projects aligned with long-term development goals. How does the National Development Agency support and de-risk investments for regional and international partners? The National Development Agency (NDA) operates as the central executive platform for Libya’s priority national projects, functioning according to internationally recognised governance and delivery standards.
Source:Libya Today
January 17, 2026 16:18 UTC
Misrata Airport welcomes first Royal Jordanian flight
Misrata International Airport received the first Royal Jordanian flight on Thursday, arriving from Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, marking the resumption of regular flights between Libya and Jordan. The Embraer E190-E2 aircraft landed at 11:30 AM, amidst an official welcoming ceremony attended by the Misrata Municipal Council and the airport director. The ceremony included the traditional water salute. Royal Jordanian is to operate two flights weekly, on Sundays and Thursdays.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 16:10 UTC
Eni starts drilling its first deep water well in the Gulf of Sirte
Italian company Eni North Africa and its partners (the National Oil Corporation, BP, and the Libyan Investment Authority) have begun drilling their first deepwater exploration well in the offshore area of the Gulf of Sirte. NOC explained that the drilling operations for this well will be carried out using a drilling vessel belonging to the Italian company Saipem. The well is located within Contract Area (38/3) in the offshore area of the Gulf of Sirte, where the water depth at the well site is approximately 1,900 meters. The well is expected to reach a depth of 4,500 meters, the NOC added.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 16:10 UTC
Libya to try a gang member linked to a mass grave of 21 migrants for human trafficking
CAIRO (AP) — A member of a criminal group linked to a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 migrants will stand trial on a charge of human trafficking, Libya’s attorney general’s office said Friday. The office said in a statement on Facebook that the gang member was being referred to court. The attorney general’s statement didn’t identify the gang. The attorney general’s office released images Friday showing bodies wrapped in black plastic bags, with some remains partially covered in dirt. Authorities arrested one of the members of the group, while remaining members are still being pursued, according to the attorney general's office.
Source:Libya Today
January 17, 2026 13:58 UTC
From Al-Awaynat to Cairo: Beyond Silent Messages
What happened in Al-Awaynat on January 9th cannot be separated from Saddam Haftar’s visit to Cairo just two days later. Saddam Haftar’s Visit: A Summons, Not a Courtesy CallIt was against this backdrop that Saddam Haftar’s visit to Cairo on January 11th occurred. Egypt had previously attempted to bring Burhan and Haftar together, urging Haftar to cut ties with the Rapid Support Forces. He denied everything, despite mounting evidence: international reports, satellite imagery, and flight-tracking data showing weapons and fuel moving from Kufra through Al-Awaynat. The strike in Al-Awaynat was the opening of a message; the Cairo visit was its conclusion.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 12:44 UTC
Health Ministry approves national midwifery and nursing policy
The Ministry of Health has approved a national policy for midwifery and nursing services, the first nationwide framework aimed at regulating and developing the two professions across the country. The policy was endorsed by the undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, Mohamed Al-Ghoj. Officials said the policy was developed following extensive analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges, and is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 on health and wellbeing. The strategy aims to strengthen leadership in nursing and midwifery at the level of public policy, academic training and clinical practice. It also seeks to reorganise the professions in line with international standards, with the stated goal of improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare services across all levels of Libya’s health system.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 12:42 UTC
NOC reviews 2025 output plan with Repsol, outlines 2026 targets
The National Oil Corporation (NOC) Chairman Masoud Suleiman reviewed the results of the company’s 2025 production plan in talks with Repsol’s Libya chief, Michael Ercíaga, according to the government Hakomitna platform. The meeting also examined the main features and targets of the 2026 production plan, including output forecasts. Discussions covered exploration activity in the Dor Al-Qassa and Al-Jaghboub areas, reservoir unification, and the I&R development plan, alongside longer-term goals to bolster reserves and expand exploration capacity. The two sides addressed service-related matters and corporate social responsibility, including an agreement for the operation of Ubari Hospital, underscoring support for communities near oil-producing areas.
Source:Libya Observer
January 17, 2026 11:33 UTC
NOC, Eni discuss gas sales agreements
The Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Masoud Suleiman, held talks with Giovanni Mercuri, General Manager of Eni North Africa – Libya Branch, on gas sales agreements between the two sides. According to a statement issued by the NOC, the meeting focused on reviewing work progress at Mellitah Oil and Gas Company, a joint venture between the NOC and the Italian company Eni, as well as development projects in the offshore Area (D). Both sides stressed the importance of coordination with the relevant departments to ensure smooth operations and the implementation of projects in line with the approved timelines.
Source:Libya Observer
January 16, 2026 18:54 UTC