Libya: Aman dropped from blacklist

Aman Bank, which is 40 per cent owned by Portugal's Banco Espirito Santo, has been removed from the National Transitional Council's (NTC) blacklist of companies whose assets were frozen under a guardianship law while they were investigated for possible corruption and links to the Qadhafi regime.

The assets of 260 individuals and 78 companies were originally sequestered under Law 37, which was passed by the NTC in May. This was one of several controversial measures adopted by the interim authority in the last months of its existence that may well be revisited by the newly elected National Congress.

The list of affected companies and individuals has already been substantially reduced after widespread protests. Some of those originally included were able to point convincingly to the lack of evidence against them. Since then further efforts have been made to remove others from the list whose inclusion is unnecessary.

The inclusion of private companies – in particular a bank such as Aman, which is backed by European capital – was highly controversial. The bank's removal therefore comes as no surprise, but another private finance company, Wafa Bank, remains on the list.

The bulk of those who remain are family members and others with strong Qadhafi affiliations. The list also includes institutions such as the Economic and Social Development Fund, which was part of the financial apparatus of the Jamahiriya.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2012 Menas Associates

NTC asks UN to unfreeze more assets

The UN Sanctions Committee swiftly responded to the National Transitional Council's (NTC) written request to lift the freeze on Libya's overseas assets. Although sanctions against the National Oil Company (NOC) were lifted in September, both the Central Bank and the Libyan Foreign Bank (LFB) continued to be subject to sanctions and particularly an asset freeze.

The sanctions on the two banks were lifted on 16th December with no objections from members of the committee. The US immediately signalled its intention to unblock those funds that are being held by the US Treasury; the UK and France acted in a similar fashion.

It is likely, however, that it will take some time for the assets to produce any form of useful cash injection into the local economy. It should though assist the NTC in demonstrating to the Libyan public that it is capable of running the country.

Not only are banks inside the country currently reporting trouble providing sufficient cash but substantial finances will also be essential for the government to both take on reconstruction projects and achieve its primary aim of providing adequate care for those who were wounded or bereaved during the fighting.

These aims are becoming all the more important when viewed in the context of increasing dissatisfaction about the direction in which the country is going. Protests are becoming more common as Libyans revel in their right to express their opinions and be heard. Although demonstrations have become commonplace in several areas, including Tripoli, it is Benghazi which has seen the majority of protests.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Libya's new Prime Minister to announce government by the end of November

The newly appointed prime minister, Dr Abdel Rahim al-Keib, has not yet officially announced his new cabinet. He has told various press outlets that he is assembling a list of candidates and hopes to announce his government by 23rd November.

His predecessor, Mahmoud Jibril, who resigned following the declaration of Libya's full liberation, has expressed concern at the lengthy transition period. The timeline for elections, not scheduled to take place until a new constitution is drawn up which could take longer than the envisaged eight months, is of particular concern. Jibril also worries about the vacuum that has been left by the absence of a formal governmental structure.

Jibril has also been quoted as criticising Qatar, the National Transitional Council's (NTC) key foreign supporter, and has been repeating the unsubstantiated and ridiculous rumours that Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi's death was somehow orchestrated by the foreign governments who had previously supported him. An investigation into how the former Leader died and the circumstances surrounding his capture and death has yet to begin.

Foreign governments and multilateral organisations have continued to support the NTC. The EU is the latest organisation to send representatives to Libya and it has officially opened a new EU delegation in Tripoli.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, visited Tripoli on 12th November to open the new delegation. She also took part in a women's forum, stressing that the EU was keen to work with Libya in forming a new democracy and civil society, particularly with women and young people.

She also met with NTC chairman Mustafa Abdel Jalil, and Dr al-Keib. This preceded the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 14th November. EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss their relationship with Libya. In a closing statement, the Council of the European Union said that the EU was 'committed to deepening and strengthening its relationship with the Libyan people'. It also stressed the importance of EU-Libya ties through the Mediterranean Union.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

NTC forces closing in on Sirte

National Transitional Council's (NTC) forces have made considerable headway in the battle for the city of Sirte, one of the remaining Colonel Mu'ammar Qadhafi strongholds and his hometown.

NTC leaders have said that they have captured the city's main hospital, the university and the Ouagadougou conference centre. But fighting continues around the city. According to the NTC, once the city is under its control the Council will declare national liberation, irrespective of whether or not Qadhafi remains at large.

Qadhafi loyalists also have control of the desert territory of Bani Walid, but it is seen as less significant as it does not lead to any exit routes from the country. Speaking about the current situation, NTC's chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil said: “I do believe, God willing, that the liberation of these cities [Sirte and Bani Walid] will happen within this week."

In August, members of Qadhafi's family and his inner circle fled to neighbouring Algeria and Niger.

Now, after months of political deadlock it's all come down to a few square kilometres in the Libyan Leader's hometown.

On Sunday 9th October, NTC reported that it had captured the city's main conference complex. It also captured the main Ibn Sina hospital, where people wounded in the offensive were seeking treatment. While many were civilians, others were taken into custody by the NTC, suspected of being Qadhafi loyalists.

According to the Associated Press news agency, the injured were lying on the floors to protect themselves from the firing going on outside. NTC field commander Osama Swehli Muttawa said: "We took 50 prisoners. They were mostly mercenaries. They were lying in beds pretending to be wounded. Some were wounded. We found Kalashnikov and other weapons under their beds."

Thousands of civilians remain trapped in Sirte, many of them fearful of retaliation by the NTC forces. It has also been reported that the Council's forces have taken control of Qadhafi's residences in the city.

The NTC fighters came up against heavily armed Qadhafi loyalist on Friday (7th October) and Saturday (8th October). Speaking about it NTC commander Nasser Zamud told AFP the fighting in the university area had been "difficult" with NTC forces facing "a lot of snipers".

On Thursday 6th October, Qadhafi delivered an audio message urging Libyans to take to the streets "in their millions" to resist the interim goverment.

Sources: BBC News, AFP, AP

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.