Operating Concerns in Libya

Safety & Security Report

Operating Concerns in Libya

Summary

OSAC’s Regional Coordinator for North Africa/Levant attended a Tripoli Country Council meeting on June 17, 2009.  Members of the council shared their security concerns in Libya, including road safety, personal security, and the threat of home invasions.  OSAC has noted an increase in constituent interest in Libya; this report is intended to highlight some security issues constituents new to doing business in the country may encounter, as well as best practices for mitigating the risks. 

Road Safety

According to the 2009 Crime and Safety Report for Libya, traffic accidents are the most common safety threat to visitors in Libya, and the leading cause of accidental death in the country.  In Tripoli, only major streets have signs, which are written exclusively in Arabic.  Visitors to Libya are encouraged to take private transportation.  For constituents living in Libya, defensive driving is imperative; it is not uncommon for pedestrians to step out in front of oncoming traffic or for drivers to disregard traffic lights.  All drivers and passengers are advised to wear seatbelts at all times and keep windows and doors locked.

One member of the Tripoli Country Council noted that defensive driving courses are required for its hired drivers.  The drivers are warned not to exceed 100 kph in cities, or 120 kph outside of cities.  The organization also circulates monthly driving tips among its contracted drivers.

In October 2008, U.S. Embassy Tripoli released a Warden Message with detailed information of a diplomatic vehicle theft from one of Tripoli’s busiest roads.  During daylight hours, the embassy car was grazed by another vehicle.  When the driver of the diplomatic car pulled over to inspect the damage, he left the keys in the ignition and the engine running; as he inspected the car, another man jumped into the vehicle and drove off with it.  This was the second report of criminals using a minor traffic accident to force the victim to vacate his vehicle.

Drivers in Libya are recommended always to leave space in which to maneuver their cars and exit an area, and may need to execute evasive driving actions, such as driving over a median or sidewalk or pushing a blocking car out of the way.  All travel choke points should be avoided, and drivers should be aware of diversions.  Travel outside of major cities should be limited to daylight hours, and constituents are recommended to travel in convoys, if possible.  Finally, if in a car accident, drivers and passengers should stay inside the vehicle until police arrive.

Personal Safety

Although Americans are rarely directly targeted in Libya, wrong place/wrong time petty crime is pervasive.  Constituents advise their employees to carry contact information for key personnel in their organization (some have a designated duty officer, security director, transportation manager, and/or guard force commander).  Several mandate that travel throughout Tripoli be conducted in company-organized transportation.  Employees are advised to carry small amounts of money in the event of being confronted with assailants demanding cash; furthermore, employees should readily hand over valuables if under physical threat.

Regional Security Officer Tripoli also advises security precautions to include varying times/routes to and from work, scanning the interior and exterior of vehicles to note any abnormalities, reporting any potential attempts at surveillance, and above all, maintaining a low profile.

Home Invasions

In May 2009, two diplomatic residences in Tripoli were burglarized.  The first case occurred in the middle of the night and resulted in large amounts of jewelry, electronics, and cash being stolen from the home.  The occupants were not at home when the crime was committed.  Three weeks later, in the early afternoon, witnesses reported two men banging on the door of another home in the same neighborhood.  When questioned, the men stated they were coming to fix the home’s air conditioning unit.  The men ultimately forced their way into the home and stole several items.  Significantly, the victims had a burglar alarm system installed in their home but had not activated it.

In general, robberies in Libya are conducted against poorly secured residences or when basic security procedures are not implemented.  The majority of crime in Libya is of an opportunistic nature and not likely to be the work of organized gangs.  RSO Tripoli reminds those in Libya to keep doors closed to strangers and only grant access to visitors when they are positively identified.  Occupants may consider outfitting homes with security fencing and bars in front of windows and doors, to serve as a physical deterrent to potential burglars.  Security lighting activated by motion sensors may also successfully stymie a robbery: one constituent noted that three intruders were observed climbing the wall of a home but ran away when their actions triggered the automatic lights on the property.

Mitigation

In the fall of 2008, RSO Tripoli created an ad hoc working group of security representatives to discuss security trends and devise action plans to mitigate the threats.  To lessen the chance of being victimized, it is recommended that constituents follow the security measures provided by RSO Tripoli and the suggestions of other Country Council members referenced above.  OSAC constituents in Libya are encouraged to join the Tripoli Country Council, which meets quarterly to discuss security incidents.  The council is next scheduled to meet in late August, with special emphasis on the expected rallies and traffic concerns related to the 40th anniversary of Colonel Qaddahfi’s founding of modern-day Libya (September 1).

For more information, please review the following links:

OSAC’s Libya Page

Consular Affairs’ Country Specific Information Sheet: Libya

To discuss this report, or for other questions regarding operating in Libya, please contact OSAC’s Regional  Coordinator for North Africa/Levant, at 571 345 2228.

The contents of this (U) presentation in no way represent the policies, views, or attitudes of the United States Department of State, or the United States Government, except as otherwise noted (e.g., travel advisories, public statements). The presentation was compiled from various open sources and (U) embassy reporting.

Please note that all OSAC products are for internal U.S. private sector security purposes only. Publishing or otherwise distributing OSAC-derived information in a manner inconsistent with this policy may result in the discontinuation of OSAC support.