Libya: insecurity and political divisions continue to threaten international shipping

© Woravit Vijitpanya

There are growing concerns over the risk to international shipping in the southern Mediterranean, following recent confrontations between Libyan maritime authorities and foreign vessels.

Last month, the Libyan Navy fired on a vessel operated by medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Bourbon Argos, marking the first time Libyan authorities have fired directly on a rescue vessel since the conflict there began in 2011.

Naval personnel eventually boarded the vessel, which was in international waters, 24 nautical miles off the Libyan coast.

A similar ...