AGP Executive Report

Food Safety in Libya: Libya’s Public Prosecutor’s Office says lab tests on agricultural samples in Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata found 65% with residues of seven banned pesticides, including substances flagged internationally as carcinogenic or mutagenic, and has opened criminal cases tracing import, distribution and use networks. Cybersecurity & Finance: A separate report focuses on the Central Bank of Libya cyberattack, arguing the real battleground is public trust as officials stress services remain running and investigations continue with international cybersecurity experts. Libyan Science & Health: Tripoli is set to host a World Vitiligo Day event bringing together dermatology specialists to discuss diagnosis and treatment advances and tackle stigma. Heritage & Museums: Benghazi Antiquities Authority opened a new exhibition hall for recovered artifacts in the Turkish Barracks, while renewed calls push for a modern national museum to protect and display Libya’s heritage. Regional Tech/Research: A UK Cultural Protection Fund round includes Libya among eligible countries for grants up to £500,000 to preserve at-risk heritage amid climate and conflict.

Cybersecurity & Finance: Libya’s Central Bank response to a cyberattack is framed as a trust-management test—services stayed operational while investigations continue with international cybersecurity experts, rejecting extortion narratives. Food Safety & Public Health: Libya’s Public Prosecutor says lab checks found 65% of agricultural samples in Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata contained residues of seven banned pesticides, with criminal cases targeting importers and distributors. NATO & Tech-Driven Security: Türkiye’s National Intelligence Academy calls the Ankara summit a “NATO 3.0” turning point, stressing cyber, disinformation and critical-infrastructure attacks as strategic tools. Energy Tech & Systems: Gastech 2026 (Bangkok, Sept 14–17) spotlights LNG, low-carbon solutions, electrification and AI for energy, aiming at supply security and grid resilience. Libya Heritage & Research: Benghazi Antiquities Authority opens a hall for recovered artifacts and renews calls for a modern national museum. Medical Science: Tripoli hosts World Vitiligo Day with lectures on diagnosis and treatment advances, plus related respiratory-care sessions.

Food Safety in Focus: Libya’s Public Prosecutor’s Office says lab tests on agricultural samples from Tripoli, Benghazi, and Misrata found 65% contained residues of seven pesticides banned under national law, including substances flagged internationally as carcinogenic or mutagenic; authorities say some exceeded safety limits and have opened criminal cases targeting importers, distributors, and users, with investigations continuing to trace supply chains. Medical Community Event: Tripoli is set to host a World Vitiligo Day scientific gathering at Mahari Hotel, bringing Libyan dermatology and respiratory specialists for talks on diagnosis and treatment advances, plus sessions on COPD guidelines and training workshops for healthcare professionals. Heritage & Research: Benghazi Antiquities Authority has opened a new exhibition hall inside the historic Turkish Barracks for recovered artifacts, aiming to build public trust and encourage people to hand items over, while renewed calls push for a modern national museum to support tourism and research. Regional Tech/Business Links: The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce held a B2B meeting with Tunisia’s Sfax chamber to connect construction and contracting firms, highlighting engineering and building-material partnerships as exports to Libya reportedly rose over recent years.

Medical & Awareness in Tripoli: A scientific event at Mahari Hotel will mark World Vitiligo Day with Libyan dermatology experts, lectures on diagnosis and treatment, and workshops aimed at accurate public awareness (including that vitiligo isn’t contagious). Benghazi Heritage Push: The Benghazi Antiquities Authority opened a new exhibition hall in the Turkish Barracks for recovered artifacts, urging citizens to hand over items and renewing calls for a modern national museum. Libyan Desert Wildlife Research: A study documented sand cats at 13 sites across Libya’s Sahara, highlighting both biodiversity value and threats like habitat loss and illegal pet trade. Skills & Digital Training: Libya’s technical and vocational education ministry met ALECSO to boost cooperation and reform training, including a new online platform for professional learning. Energy Trade Signal: Reports say Nigeria imported Libyan crude for the first time on record (about 64,500 bpd in May 2026), pointing to Libya’s growing role in regional refining supply. Regional Education Funding: The UK Cultural Protection Fund opened applications, including Libya, for heritage preservation projects at risk from climate change and conflict.

Regional Trade & Women’s Entrepreneurship: COMESA chief Chileshe Kapwepwe is in Tunisia to deepen integration into the regional market, with an Institutions Awareness Forum plus a Women in Business Forum and Trade Fair aimed at boosting trade, investment, and partnerships. Libya–Tunisia Construction Links: The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce hosted a B2B meeting with Tunisia’s Sfax chamber to connect firms on joint ventures and public works, citing a 37% export increase to Libya over four years. TVET & Digital Training Hub: Libya’s Technical and Vocational Education ministry met ALECSO to align training with labor needs and technological change, including building an online platform for professional training. Benghazi Desert Biodiversity: A Guardian-backed study documented sand cats at 13 Libyan desert sites (15 sightings in Wadi Armet) and also recorded Saharan striped weasels in new locations, highlighting habitat and illegal pet trade risks. Energy Infrastructure Update: Eni and NOC advanced the Sabratha Compression Project with a 1,600-ton module to support gas recovery, power generation, and exports to Italy via Greenstream. Water & Energy Waste Context: A World Bank report flags 2.1 billion people still lacking safe drinking water services while global gas flaring wastes an estimated $54bn—Libya is listed among major flaring countries. Funding for Heritage Protection: The UK Cultural Protection Fund opened applications for projects (including Libya) to preserve cultural heritage at risk from climate change, conflict, and other threats.

Sand cat research in Libya: A British-backed scientific study documented sand cats at 13 sites across the Libyan desert, with 15 sightings concentrated in the remote Wadi Armet area, after an earlier 2017 YouTube video helped launch an eight-year monitoring effort; researchers also flagged threats like habitat loss, accidental killings, and illegal pet trade. Libya–Tunisia construction ties: The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce hosted a B2B meeting with Tunisia’s Sfax chamber to connect firms on construction, contracting, and civil engineering, highlighting rising Tunisian exports to Libya and new joint-venture opportunities. Libya’s energy push in the region: Reports say Nigeria imported Libyan crude for the first time on record (about 64,500 bpd in May 2026), pointing to Libya’s growing role in regional feedstock flows despite domestic supply pressures. Skills and tech for training: Libya’s technical and vocational education ministry met ALECSO to boost cooperation and reform training for labor-market needs, including a new online platform for professional specializations. Offshore gas upgrade: Eni and NOC reported progress on the Sabratha Compression Project, adding a 1,600-ton compression module to support gas recovery and strengthen Libya’s power-generation and export capacity. Education reform via digital tools: The same TVET push emphasized digital transformation and innovation in training delivery. Archaeology in eastern Libya: Archaeologists continue efforts to protect “breathtaking” ancient Greek ruins in eastern Libya amid ongoing risks to heritage sites.

Wildlife Science: A Guardian-backed study has documented sand cats across 13 sites in Libya’s Sahara, including 15 sightings in the remote Wadi Armet area, while also recording Saharan striped weasels in new locations—highlighting both Libya’s biodiversity and threats like habitat loss, hunting accidents, and illegal pet trade. Education & Skills: Libya’s Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education met ALECSO to boost technical and vocational training, with officials pointing to a new digital online platform meant to serve as a hub for training across professions and future specialisations. Energy Trade: Nigeria’s Dangote refinery reportedly received about 64,500 barrels per day of Libyan crude in May 2026—the first recorded Nigerian import of Libyan crude in available data—showing Libya’s growing role in regional feedstock markets. Oil & Gas Infrastructure: Eni and NOC say the Sabratha Compression Project has started up, adding low-pressure compression capacity to support Bahr Essalam output and help sustain power generation and exports via the Greenstream pipeline. Regional Tech/Business Links: The Tripoli Chamber of Commerce hosted a Libya–Tunisia B2B meeting focused on construction and contracting, with Tunisian firms pitching building materials, engineering services, and joint infrastructure deals. Policy/Unity Diplomacy: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met LNA Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar in Washington to discuss Libyan-led efforts to unify the military, economy, and political institutions.

Libya–Education & Skills: Libya’s Technical and Vocational Education ministry met ALECSO to boost Arab cooperation and align training with labour-market needs, including a new online training hub for future specialisations. Libya–Energy Infrastructure: Eni and NOC moved forward with the Sabratha Compression Project, adding a 1,600-ton compression module to support gas recovery and strengthen Libya’s power and export capacity via Greenstream. Libya–Oil Trade: Nigeria imported about 64,500 bpd (around 2m barrels for May) of Libyan crude for the first time in available records, with Dangote Petroleum Refinery named as the main importer. Libya–Archaeology & Climate: University of Benghazi and an Irish partner discussed the “Maria” project to document and protect coastal and underwater heritage sites threatened by sea-level rise and stronger waves. Libya–Wildlife Discovery: A study linked an 18-second 2017 YouTube clip to confirm sand cat strongholds in southwest Libya, adding new sightings across 13 sites. Regional Tech/Science: Tanzania urged more climate science investment and better early-warning systems, while Africa’s energy investment outlook hit $110bn in 2026 with Libya among key destinations.

Libya Security & Tech: Investigators say UAE-backed Sudanese rebels are being trained in secret camps in eastern Libya, using drones, heavy machine guns and rocket launchers, with training linked to UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries and Libyan soldiers. Emergency Response: Oman’s National Search and Rescue Team hit a record in drills, completing readiness and response steps in under five hours—well below an international benchmark—showing how fast logistics and coordination can matter in crisis. Sports Infrastructure in Libya: Construction is continuing on Sabha’s Al-Shaoush Girbal International Stadium, with work focused on main components under approved plans and engineering standards. Wildlife Science (Libya Sahara): A new study ties a nearly decade-old 18-second YouTube clip to confirmed sand-cat strongholds in southwest Libya, adding multiple sightings across the region. Marine Heritage: The University of Benghazi is partnering with an Irish university on the “Maria” project to document and protect coastal and underwater archaeological sites threatened by sea-level rise. Energy & Investment (Libya in focus): The IEA projects Africa’s energy investment at $110bn in 2026; Libya is named among the main destinations, even as upstream spending has fallen. Climate Tech (Regional): Tanzania is pushing for more climate science investment, calling for advanced modelling, high-performance computing, AI and better early-warning systems.

Wildlife Research: An 18-second YouTube clip helped scientists confirm a sand-cat stronghold in Libya’s Sahara, with a new study documenting sightings across 13 sites and highlighting southwest Libya as a key refuge. Energy Investment: The IEA projects Africa’s energy investment will hit $110bn in 2026, with Libya among the top destinations, while noting upstream spending has fallen and interest is shifting toward power, critical minerals, and electrification. Marine Heritage: Libya and an Irish university are collaborating under the “Maria” project to document and protect endangered coastal and underwater archaeological sites, including eastern Libya’s ancient ports, as climate change accelerates damage. Humanitarian & Rights: Eastern Libyan authorities released 10 activists detained en route to Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Convoy, after a Benghazi Court of Appeal ruling and deportation steps. Water & Infrastructure: A reminder piece spotlights Libya’s Great Man-Made River, moving fossil groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer to coastal cities via a vast pipeline network. Public Health Science: Coverage also highlights how African lab capacity and early diagnosis drive Ebola response, underscoring the role of African science in outbreak detection.

Marine Heritage & Climate Risk: The University of Benghazi met an Irish team on the “Maria” project to document and preserve endangered coastal and underwater archaeological sites across Libya, using modern documentation and assessing damage from sea-level rise and stronger waves. Water & Engineering: A new explainer revisits Libya’s Great Man-Made River, built to move fossil groundwater from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer to coastal cities—an “eighth wonder” scale infrastructure story for tech-minded readers. Energy & Environment: World Bank reporting highlights soaring global gas flaring (167 bcm in 2025) and estimates flared gas worth about $54bn—an energy security and electricity-access problem for oil producers including Libya. Digital Finance & Tech Partnerships: IsDB Institute meetings at the 2026 Group Annual Meetings included Libya among partners discussing Islamic finance ecosystem strengthening, digital transformation, fintech, and regulatory capacity. Regional Mobility Controls: Libya’s eastern-based government issued a decree restricting entry for several nationalities via land, sea, and air, citing changes to foreign entry handling—raising concerns for migrants and refugees. Cybersecurity Incident: CBL says a cybersecurity incident is under full control, with accounts and financial assets safe.

Libya Water Engineering: A quick explainer revisits Libya’s Great Man-Made River, moving Sahara aquifer water to coastal cities via a vast underground pipeline network. Marine Heritage Protection: The University of Benghazi met an Irish partner on the “Maria” project to document and preserve endangered coastal and underwater sites in eastern Libya using modern documentation methods. Archaeology Under Pressure: AFP reports local experts and volunteers working to safeguard UNESCO-listed Cyrene and Apollonia ruins in eastern Libya after years of looting and storm damage, including hiding artifacts during insecurity. Eastern Libya Politics & Mobility: Libya’s eastern authorities released 10 activists detained after the Global Sumud convoy was stopped near Sirte, with deportation steps tied to a Benghazi court ruling. Energy & Emissions (Libya in focus): A methane-reduction report flags Libya among countries with meaningful, relatively low-cost abatement options like leak detection and improved flaring practices. Regional Tech/Policy Context: A League of Arab States meeting in Cairo with UNODC reviewed regional cooperation on drugs, organized crime, terrorism, corruption, and financial crimes.

Water Infrastructure: Libya’s Great Man-Made River keeps supplying coastal cities with Sahara fossil groundwater via a vast underground pipeline network, drawing on the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System—an “Eighth Wonder” built because the country has no natural rivers. Marine Heritage & Research: The University of Benghazi and an Irish university are collaborating on the “Maria” project to document and protect endangered coastal and underwater archaeological sites in eastern Libya, using modern documentation and studying damage from sea-level rise and stronger waves. Public Health & Labs: An OpEd on Ebola response spotlights how fast African lab science helped identify a rare Bundibugyo ebolavirus strain in the DRC, underscoring the value of regional research capacity. Climate & Energy Security: World Bank reporting warns gas flaring hit 167 bcm in 2025 (a third straight rise), wasting fuel worth about $54bn and worsening Africa’s electricity and industrial constraints. Eastern Libya Archaeology: Teams in Shahat are working to safeguard UNESCO-listed Cyrene and Apollonia ruins after years of looting and storm damage, including protecting artifacts when state institutions were absent. Libya Mobility/Protection: A Libya-linked decree in Benghazi restricts entry for several nationalities tied to refugee transit routes, raising concerns about protection gaps.

Marine Heritage Protection: Libya’s University of Benghazi met an Irish university on the “Maria” project to document and preserve endangered coastal and underwater sites, using modern documentation training and fieldwork to assess damage from sea-level rise and stronger waves. Public Health & Lab Capacity: An OpEd on Ebola response credits rapid African science—sample analysis and fast pathogen identification at the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale in DRC—as the foundation for effective outbreak action. Allergy Care Push: AFRICALLI marks World Allergy Week 2026, calling for allergies and immunologic diseases to be treated as essential healthcare across Africa, with better training, diagnostics, and medicines. Energy & Climate Tech: World Bank reporting highlights global gas flaring hitting a six-year high (167 bcm in 2025, valued at about $54bn), warning it undermines electricity access and energy security—relevant for Libya’s oil-and-gas context. Libya Tech/Policy: Libya’s eastern authorities released 10 Global Sumud convoy activists after a month in captivity, underscoring how regional mobility rules and legal processes shape humanitarian operations. Cyber/Finance Governance: The ICC filed a complaint against the US over sanctions targeting judges, arguing political interference in judicial decisions.

Marine Heritage Protection: The University of Benghazi met an Irish university on the “Maria” project to document and preserve endangered coastal and underwater archaeological sites across the Middle East and North Africa, including fieldwork by divers and training in modern documentation. Public Health & Research Capacity: An OpEd on the DRC’s latest Ebola response highlights how fast lab diagnosis by African scientists (including pathogen identification at INRB in Kinshasa) underpins every later step of outbreak control. Healthcare Access Logistics: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health announced a feasibility collaboration with MSD to build a regional pharmaceutical logistics hub inside the HELM cluster, aiming to speed safe distribution of innovative therapies. Energy, Water & Climate Tradeoffs: A study maps 3,139 African power plants and models how expanding electricity access could strain water resources and raise emissions—linking grid growth to integrated water management. Gas Flaring Waste: World Bank reporting says global gas flaring hit 167 bcm in 2025 (worth about $54bn), underscoring lost energy for power and cleaner cooking—relevant for Libya and other producers. Eastern Libya Archaeology Under Pressure: Local experts and volunteers are racing to protect UNESCO-listed Cyrene and Apollonia ruins from looting and past storm damage, using improvised site protection and artifact safeguarding. Libya Mobility & Migration Controls: Libya’s eastern-based government issued a decree restricting entry for several nationalities via land, sea, and air, while refugee-rights groups warn of protection gaps. Regional Tech & Security Angle: A report on Africa’s drone wars points to the spread of advanced drone tech beyond major militaries, including fiber-optic first-person-view drones used in Mali.

Maritime Sovereignty Clash: Greece’s Chevron-led offshore oil and gas leases south of Crete have been ratified, prompting fresh condemnation from Turkey and Libya over alleged violations of maritime delimitation understandings. Drone Warfare Shift: A new report highlights how fiber-optic first-person-view drones are spreading beyond top militaries, with rebel use in Mali underscoring fast tech diffusion across Africa’s conflicts. Libya’s Archaeology Under Pressure: In eastern Libya, archaeologists and residents are racing to protect UNESCO-listed Cyrene and Apollonia after years of looting and storm damage, relying on local safeguarding plans for rare artifacts. Energy Waste & Power Limits: World Bank figures show global gas flaring hit $54bn value in 2025 and rose to 167 bcm, a direct hit to energy security for countries including Libya. Methane Cuts for Oil Producers: A Carbon Limits/CATF study says Algeria and Nigeria lead low-cost methane reduction opportunities using practical fixes like leak detection and improved flaring—relevant for Libya’s upstream sector. Libya Politics & US Push: A US-backed push for a unified Libyan government is gaining traction in the east, with implications for institutions and potential oil investment. Refugee/Entry Controls: Libya’s eastern-based authorities issued a decree restricting entry for several nationalities, raising new concerns for migrants and refugees transiting toward Europe.