Al-Shuhumi: No clear reactions from oil markets to Venezuela’s developments… and the potential impact is long-term
He noted the United States faces challenges with shale oil production. He added that Libyan oil has a very close geographical location to European markets. Libyan oil is of much higher quality compared to Venezuelan oil. Al-Shuhumi ruled out a direct impact of these developments on Libyan oil in global markets. Increasing oil production requires massive investments.
Source:Libya Today
January 05, 2026 16:04 UTC
Libyan Relief Agency distributes food aid to Sudanese refugees in Benghazi
The Libyan Relief Agency, Benghazi branch, has distributed food assistance to Sudanese refugees residing in the city, in cooperation with the World Food Programme. The initiative comes in response to the increasing needs of refugee families who are experiencing difficult living conditions due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The agency aims to ensure a minimum level of food security and to reduce the daily hardships faced by these families. The agency stated that the distribution is part of its broader humanitarian plan to support the most vulnerable groups without discrimination, while promoting the values of solidarity and humanitarian cooperation in coordination with local and international partners. It also reaffirmed its commitment to continuing relief and humanitarian programs and to expanding its interventions in order to improve the living conditions of refugees and displaced persons, reflecting its ongoing humanitarian role within the community.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 15:43 UTC
HCS elects new head of elections commission
The High Council of State (HCS) has voted to elect Salah Al-Kumayshi as head of the National High Electoral Commission (HNEC) after he secured 63 votes in a second round of voting. His rival, Al-Aref Al-Tair, received 33 votes. A total of 103 members took part in the runoff, out of 107 who attended the session. There has been no immediate response from the House of Representatives or from the current leadership of the electoral commission regarding the Council’s decision. The House of Representatives ruled last week to keep the existing commission board in place, while proceeding with the election of vacant posts.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 15:33 UTC
Fire causes minor damage at Abu Salim accident hospital
A fire broke out on Monday in one of the departments at Abu Salim Accident Hospital, causing some material damage, according to hospital officials. In a statement posted on its official channels, the hospital said firefighting teams brought the blaze under control and extinguished it without any reported injuries. The hospital added that the fire occurred on the first floor, which is currently undergoing maintenance and was not hosting any patients at the time. No cause for the fire has so far been disclosed.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 15:33 UTC
Environmental group warns of Barbary partridge extinction risk in Libya
The Albarari Nature Conservation has warned of a rapid decline in the population of the Barbary partridge in Libya, raising concerns about the risk of extinction. The organization noted that the species is particularly threatened in the central region, as well as in Tarhuna and Al-Khums, attributing the decline mainly to excessive hunting and the illegal trade in live birds. It also emphasized that the continuation of these practices endangers the partridge’s breeding cycle and disrupts ecological balance, cautioning that Libya could witness a repeat of the sharp population decline previously recorded in the Western Mountain region and Misrata.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 13:18 UTC
Libya: Turkey is Here to Stay, Abandons Exit Strategy
Turkey’s parliament has approved a 24-month extension of its military deployment in Libya, running through early 2028. Turkey’s military footprint serves as a force multiplier for its broader Eastern Mediterranean strategy, where unresolved maritime delimitation disputes with Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt intersect with competing energy development claims. By maintaining its western Libya position, Turkey ensures it retains a seat at any future negotiating table concerning Libya’s political architecture or resource allocation frameworks. The international community’s effective acquiescence to indefinite foreign deployments signals a shared assessment that Libya’s political settlement remains beyond near-term reach. The normalization of foreign military deployments as “stabilization contributions” creates precedents that may prove difficult to reverse, even when domestic conditions theoretically support transition to national security arrangements.
Source:Libya Today
January 05, 2026 13:17 UTC
Interior Ministry: Combating extremism and terrorism is a national priority
The Ministry of Interior of the Government of National Unity has reaffirmed that combating extremism and terrorism is a national priority and a shared responsibility requiring coordinated security, intellectual, and societal efforts. In a statement issued on Sunday to mark the Arab Week for Awareness of the Dangers of Extremism and Terrorism, observed annually from January 4 to 10, the ministry emphasized the importance of unified action to confront extremist ideologies. The ministry renewed its commitment to implementing policies and strategies aimed at enhancing security and stability, countering all forms of extremism through preventive and awareness-based approaches, promoting moderation and tolerance, and strengthening a culture of dialogue while rejecting violence and hatred. It also stressed that community awareness is the first line of defense against extremism and terrorism, noting that security is a collective responsibility founded on cooperation and integration among all relevant institutions and stakeholders.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 11:34 UTC
Border Guard in Al-Qaryat arrests 41 illegal migrants of African nationalities
The Border Guard Service in the Al-Qaryat security sector has arrested 41 illegal migrants of various African nationalities during a security operation. The Border Guard patrols conducted a wide-scale campaign in the areas of Al-Qaryat and Abu Al-Gharb as part of efforts to curb illegal migration. According to the Border Guard Service, the migrants were found inside unlawful locations and hideouts, which were fully evacuated. Legal measures were taken against those detained, and they were transferred to the sector’s headquarters pending handover to the relevant authorities.
Source:Libya Observer
January 05, 2026 11:02 UTC
Rubio says US won’t govern Venezuela
Leaders in Venezuela have so far pushed back, at least publicly, calling on the Trump administration to release Maduro. Trump repeated vow US would ‘run’ VenezuelaTrump’s vow to “run” Venezuela, repeated more than half a dozen times at a news conference in Florida on Saturday, sparked concerns among some Democrats. “The whole foreign policy apparatus thinks everything is Libya, everything is Iraq, everything is Afghanistan,” Rubio said. The Trump administration spent months building up American forces in the region and carrying out attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean for allegedly ferrying drugs. Quiet falls in Venezuela after US operationVenezuela’s government kept operating as usual over the weekend as ministers remained in their posts.
Source:Libya Today
January 05, 2026 05:36 UTC
Mali Joins Burkina Faso, Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and More as US Travel Ban Takes Effect, Shaking Global Travel, Business, and Diplomatic Relations
Mali Joins Burkina Faso, Syria, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and More as US Travel Ban Takes Effect, Shaking Global Travel, Business, and Diplomatic RelationsAs of January 1, 2026, a far-reaching travel ban imposed by the U.S. government under President Donald Trump has gone into full effect, radically altering international travel dynamics. The scope of this travel ban is wide, restricting citizens from several African, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations from entering the United States. (Mintz.com)Why the U.S. Government Deemed the Ban NecessaryThe U.S. government’s reasoning for implementing this broad travel ban stems from a national security imperative. As the new 2026 U.S. travel ban becomes a reality, it remains to be seen how long it will remain in place. Conclusion: What This Means for Global TravelersThe impact of this expanded U.S. travel ban is undeniable, and it brings us to a crucial juncture in the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration, global travel restrictions, and international diplomacy.
Source:Libya Today
January 05, 2026 01:37 UTC
HNEC rejects "allegations" of obstructing constitutional referendum
The High National Elections Commission (HNEC) has denied what it described as “allegations” circulating about its lack of commitment to implementing a referendum on the draft constitution, stressing that such claims do not reflect the reality of the legal and constitutional process being followed. The HNEC explained in a statement that the failure to implement the referendum was due to obstacles beyond its control, most notably the refusal;at previous stages; by both the High Council of State and the Government of National Accord to hold the referendum under the existing legal framework, which, according to the HNEC, prevented progress on this national entitlement. The HNEC further clarified that the Tenth Constitutional Amendment issued in March 2022 provided for the formation of a committee to address disputes related to the draft constitution. However, the committee failed to achieve its intended goal of reaching consensus on amending the draft, nor did the HNEC receive the amended version of the draft constitution that would legally allow it to resume referendum procedures. The HNEC emphasized that returning to the constitutional track requires adherence to the Tenth and Twelfth Constitutional Amendments, in addition to the availability of clear political consIt also stressed that its board has never been an obstacle to holding the referendum, reiterating its commitment to implementing any constitutional or electoral process legally referred to it in full compliance with the law and in a manner that safeguards the will of the Libyan people.
Source:Libya Observer
January 04, 2026 20:24 UTC
Abu Salim prison massacre case postponed to 8 February
The Tripoli Court of Appeal, Second Criminal Chamber, decided on Sunday; during its twelfth session, to postpone consideration of the Abu Salim prison massacre case to 8 February 2026, while keeping the defendants in custody pending verdict. The lawyer for the Association of Victims of the Abu Salim Prison Massacre, Mustafa Al-Majdoub, explained that the session saw the attendance of the main defendants, namely the second defendant Abdullah Al-Senussi and the third defendant Mansour Daw, via video, while two other defendants detained in the case were absent. Al-Majdoub said in remarks to Libya Al-Ahrar TV that the session recorded the absence of the defense lawyer for the second defendant, while defense lawyers for several other defendants were present, in addition to a number of families of the victims of the Abu Salim massacre. Last December, the “Association of the Martyrs of the Abu Salim Prison Massacre” called for speeding up the arrest and appearance of all defendants in the case in accordance with the indictment issued by the Public Prosecutor. It also condemned what it described as “any attempts to release Abdullah Al-Senussi, accused of killing 1,269 prisoners.”
Source:Libya Observer
January 04, 2026 20:24 UTC
HoR committee reviews pharmacy and medicines bill
The House of Representatives (HCS) has reviewed a draft law regulating pharmacy and medicines, following detailed discussions by its Health and Environment Committee. According to the House’s official spokesperson, Abdullah Blihiq, the committee has completed its review of the legislation after a series of meetings spanning around eighteen months. The bill, in its final form, will now be referred to the Health Committee before being presented to the House of Representatives for a vote. The meeting was chaired by committee member Asmaa Al-Khouja and attended by other members of the Health and Environment Committee.
Source:Libya Observer
January 04, 2026 16:01 UTC
Prosecutors investigate damage to Ajdabiya heritage sites
Prosecutors in eastern Benghazi have opened an investigation into alleged attacks on archaeological sites in the Ajdabiya area. The Public Order Prosecution said it was reviewing complaints over damage to several sites overseen by the Ajdabiya Antiquities Office. According to the Benghazi Antiquities Authority, a specialist committee has been formed including prosecutors, representatives of the tourist police and antiquities protection units, and a group of archaeologists. The team has carried out on-site inspections alongside the head of the Ajdabiya office. Officials said the aim was to assess the extent of the damage and collect evidence to document the violations, with a view to taking legal action against those responsible.
Source:Libya Observer
January 04, 2026 12:25 UTC
Sam George reacts to US capture of Venezuelan president
The minister’s reaction follows breaking reports on January 3, 2026, that U.S. forces successfully captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a high-stakes raid in the capital, Caracas. The event has sent shockwaves through the diplomatic world, drawing immediate comparisons to previous Western interventions in the Middle East and North Africa. George, an alumnus of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), noted that the military action serves as a live case study for the theories of international law he once researched. "Today's events in Caracas remind me of my dissertation topic at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, focusing on issues of international law," George posted. Sam George’s critique centred on whether the world is witnessing a repetitive cycle of "regime change" strategies that have historically led to long-term instability.
Source:Libya Today
January 04, 2026 05:36 UTC