UAE national arrested in Libya on suspicion of spying

The outgoing United Nations envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon of Spain, on Thursday said he would seek a “full clarification” of a newspaper report that the United Arab Emirates was shipping arms to Libyan factions in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

One email quoted by the NY Times appears to be from a senior UAE diplomat, who admitted his own country “violated the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Libya and continues to do so”.

“He claims to be a businessman and to have no ties to the Dubai police but intelligence agents found pictures on his phone of sensitive locations in Tripoli, including a video of the Turkish embassy”, said Sour.

UAE authorities reportedly attempted to negotiate through a third party a $10mn bribe for Wilayati’s release, but the Tripoli government refused.

“This is just the initial investigation”, al-Sour said.

The Emirati’s detention is not surprising, given that an Islamist militia-backed government controls the capital.

The internationally-recognized government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni is based in the eastern city of Bayda, with its elected House of Representatives based in Tobruk.

The instability plaguing Libya since 2011 has allowed Islamic State militants to expand across the country and also helped make it a major transit point for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe.

Libya Dawn has previously accused the UAE of attacking a number of its forces in partnership with militias loyal to renegade Libyan Colonel Khalifa Haftar, who is supported by the West. Each accuses neighbouring countries of backing the other.

Emirati officials have not commented on the Libyans’ case.