Commandos from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will soon be sent to protect the reopened Indian Embassy in Libya and its staff. Director General of CRPF Gyanendra Pratap Singh made the announcement during the force’s 87th Raising Day event on Sunday (July 27).
A team of CRPF commandos is preparing to head to Tripoli, the CRPF DG shared, adding this will be similar to their current role at the Indian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
Why are the CRPF commandoes being sent to Libya?
Amid worsening security situation in the north African country, India had closed its embassy in Tripoli which has now been reopened. The Indian Embassy in Libya was reopened in July 2024, after being closed for nearly five years due to unsafe conditions. India had in April 2019 removed the embassy staff and CRPF team from Tripoli because of sudden fighting during the civil war.
Embassy duties were later handled from Tunisia, and then from Malta.
As per sources quoted by news agency PTI, the CRPF had been posted at the Libyan embassy around four or five years ago. However, they were called back when the situation deteriorated, and the embassy was linked to the one in Tunisia. Now that the embassy in Tripoli has reopened at 45, Al-Shatt Street, the CRPF team is returning.
What is the latest development on CRPF deployment in Indian Embassy in Libya?
Around 40 commandos, led by an officer of deputy commandant rank, will take charge once the Ministry of External Affairs approves the deployment.
Due to Libya’s unstable situation in 2014, about 3,800 Indian citizens were brought back to India, including 6 kidnapped by ISIS, the Embassy of India in Tunisia mentions on its website. Libya has faced ongoing security problems since the 2011 uprising that removed Muammar Gaddafi.
The country has remained split between eastern and western regions because of long-running disputes between different groups.
Why is India crucial for Libya’s energy?
Interestingly, Libya’s energy sector has been in good relations with India. Reports from the Libya Tribune indicate that ONGC Videsh and Oil India Limited have shown renewed interest in resuming operations in Libya, responding to Tripoli’s invitation to help reconstruct the nation’s essential oil and gas sector.