Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2014 23:13:51 +0200
Armed to the Teeth: The Security Problem with Libya and its Weapons Cache
by <http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/author/ddonovan/> Daniel Donovan |
April 2nd, 2014 |
When the Libyan Civil War ended with
<http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/world/libya-civil-war-fast-facts/> the death
of Muammar Gaddafi in October of 2011, the country
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2011/oct/21/libya-the-death-of-gad
dafi> rejoiced, as they had finally rid themselves of tyrannical rule that
lasted 42 years. Shortly after, the National Transitional Council (NTC)
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-13755445> declared Libya "liberated"
and announced the plans to hold elections in eight months time. This
revolution was viewed with admiration across the globe and was seen as the
sign of a Libyan democracy for the first time in history. However, rebel
forces and rogue militias continued to operate independently from the NTC
and chaos ensued, with clashes erupting between conflicting factions and
terror reaching its culmination in the infamous Benghazi attack on the U.S.
consulate office in September 2012. The liberation and relative peace that
many expected falling the overthrow of a ruthless dictator slipped away.
For present-day Libya, the installation of an effective, democratically
elected government now seems little more than a pipe dream. Groups that
originated as anti-Gaddafi rebels transformed into armed militia groups,
which the national government has been unable to control. The result is a
country that is mostly lawless, with the same militia groups providing
protection and border security, but
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-19744533> simultaneously
terrorizing people and committing grave human rights abuses. The insecurity
in the country came to the forefront of global attention when Prime Minister
Ali Zeidan was abducted by armed militia men in October 2013.
While a lawless Libya may not be at the top of Western agendas of global
affairs, the conditions that exist have created a scenario that could have
extremely adverse effects on global security. It is a situation that
requires sincere attention before the environment spirals out of control.
Libya lies on the North Africa coast and stretches well into the heart of
the Sahara Desert, giving militia groups inroads into terrorist hotbeds in
North Africa, Sahel and West Africa. This expanse and the lack of security
throughout provide the perfect conditions for terrorist groups to operate
unabated across much of the country. Recently, armed Libyan groups
<http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24051371> composed of former employees
of border security and units of the Petroleum Facilities Guard have seized
control of the oil industry, blocking ports and oil fields and limiting oil
production, the backbone of Libya's economy. These groups have taken this
economic opportunity to show their ability to stand up to the fragile
government and enforce demands. Bold actions such as this display exactly
how weak the central government really is.
Perhaps the most alarming aspect of a lawless Libya is the
<http://time.com/22835/libyan-arms-fuel-conflict-and-terrorism-u-n-experts-s
ay/> arms trade. With millions of weapons leftover from the Gaddafi regime
and the civil war, and little control by government officials, outdoor food
markets have been transformed into massive arms markets, where dealers
display a variety of illegal weapons that can be had for the right price.
The United Nations is investigating alleged illegal transfer of weapons to
14 different countries, fueling armed conflict. Here in lies the problem.
With virtually no control over the country and a huge cache of weapons
readily available to be bought inside and outside of the country, Libya has
become the supermarket for terrorist groups and armed militias. This is in
spite of an arms
<http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/10/us-libya-crisis-un-idUSBREA291OV2
0140310> embargo imposed by the U.N. at the onset of the 2011 uprising.
By showing the initiative to negotiate illegal international arms trade
agreements while lying in close proximity to many international terrorist
groups, Libya has become a major threat to world peace. The extent of the
arms present in the country even include larger weapons, such as
man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). If Libya militia groups and arms
traders are allowed to continue to operate unfettered, how long will it be
until larger weapons are being bought and sold by terrorist networks?
While the U.N. is trying to clamp down on the illicit arms trade pouring out
of the country with expert panelists and potential sanctions, the reality is
that unless powerful governments such as the United States and Western
Europe take a greater interest in the situation, the environment will only
become that much more volatile and the dealers that much more astute. In an
area that lies near safe-havens for known terrorist organizations, such as
Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Al Murabitun, access to more powerful
weaponry is the last thing that the world needs. Luckily in early 2014, the
U.S. and other governments were able to facilitate the destruction of
<http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/03/world/africa/libyas-cache-of-toxic-arms-a
ll-destroyed.html?_r=0> Libya's toxic arms collection or these would be at
risk of hitting the international market.
<http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2014/03/31/armed-to-the-teeth-the-security-pr
oblem-with-libya-and-its-weapons-cache/>
Investmenthttp://savingsslider-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png
in security services to the centralized government are vital in stabilizing
Libya and cutting off the illegal arms trade market before it becomes to
much of a threat to control. With a plethora of violence across the
continent the world does not need a facilitator to provide the means for
terror groups to unveil their wrath. A unified initiative showing support
for the Libyan government is the first step to preventing the continued
illicit arms trade and avoiding transforming Libya into another hotbed for
terrorism. If nothing is done soon to control this situation, then the
consequences could be catastrophic for global peace.
A Weapons Market in Libya
A Weapons Market in Libya
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