Latest news with #MuammarQaddafi
Arab News
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Libya ‘crackdown' forces aid groups to cease operations: diplomats
TUNIS: Diplomats in Libya have said in a letter to authorities seen by AFP that several international humanitarian organizations were forced to suspend operations after threats by security services and forced resignations. In the letter, which was obtained by AFP on Wednesday, 17 mainly European ambassadors and a UN official accuse the Internal Security Agency (ISA) of an 'ongoing crackdown' on non-governmental groups and humanitarian aid workers. In war-torn Libya split between two rival administrations, the ISA reports to the interior ministry in the capital Tripoli, seat of the UN-recognized government. 'Between March 13 and 27, the ISA summoned at least 18 staff members from six international NGOs for questioning,' said the letter addressed to the Tripoli-based foreign ministry. ISA agents 'seized some of their passports,' forced them to 'resign from their positions' and pledge in writing never to work for an international NGO again, the letter added. It also said the security service 'sealed some of their offices.' Beyond the six groups directly affected, the diplomats said that 'many other organizations are suspending activities as a matter of precaution.' AFP was not able to independently verify the claims made in the letter, dated March 27. The authorities in Tripoli did not immediately comment on the matter, but announced a press conference later on Wednesday to address 'the work of international NGOs.' Libya has struggled to recover from the chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi. It remains split between the UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival authority in the east, backed by military strongman Khalifa Haftar. The diplomats' letter does not name the organizations affected by the ISA's alleged measures, but a source familiar with the issue said on condition of anonymity that they include the International Rescue Committee, the International Medical Corps and the Danish Refugee Council. Contacted by AFP, the Danish Refugee Council said it 'could not comment' on the matter. There was no immediate comment from the other groups. The source said that some foreign NGO staff members had been ordered to leave Libya, while others had been barred from returning after recent trips abroad. The source mentioned that the authorities had already imposed visa restrictions on foreign humanitarian workers between July 2022 and December 2023, but operations had continued using local staff or individuals who did not require visas. In their letter, the diplomats from the European Union, France, Britain and other countries as well as a top UN humanitarian representative voiced concern about the impact of the measures. The crackdown including detention and questioning of staff members has had a 'particularly alarming' effect 'on the provision of humanitarian primary health assistance,' the letter said. It urged authorities to allow the NGOs to 'reopen their offices and safely restart humanitarian operations as soon as possible.' It also demanded that seized passports be returned to staff members, and 'any resignation letters or pledges signed at the ISA office' invalidated.
Arab News
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Iran's painful scenes and decisive moment
The veteran politician said the latest American strikes against Houthi positions may be the last message from the Trump administration to Iran before the decisive moment arrives for its nuclear program. He said the region may be headed toward a major crisis should the Iranian supreme leader fail to take a big and painful decision that would 'dismantle the nuclear program and abandon the regional proxies, especially after the blows they were dealt.' Donald Trump's message to the Iranian leadership reminded me of what took place in the early 2000s between the US and Libya. At that time, Muammar Qaddafi requested that Foreign Minister Abdel Rahman Shalgham convince his friend, Algerian President Abdulaziz Bouteflika, to intervene with George W. Bush to improve relations between Washington and Tripoli. Bouteflika agreed and came back to Shalgham with the following message: 'You either remove the weapons of mass destruction or he (Bush) will destroy everything without discussion.' Shalgham relayed the message to Qaddafi, who told him: 'You are afraid and a coward.' After considering his options, Qaddafi ultimately went with the one that would save his regime instead of kick off a confrontation with America. Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi contacted British intelligence with a message: 'I am Saif Al-Islam, Muammar Qaddafi's son. I want to talk to you about the weapons of mass destruction.' When a meeting was set up, he said he wanted an improvement in relations in return for cooperation. After that, Libya dismantled its centrifuges and handed them over to the Americans. Libya also severed ties with organizations and parties that were viewed as its proxies. Iran is nothing like Libya, not in its regime or the way it takes decisions. It is a major regional power that boasts human, military and economic means. But it is approaching the moment of truth now that Trump has returned to the White House. It has for decades avoided sliding into a direct confrontation with the American military machine, preferring instead to undermine American influence in the region by mobilizing its proxies. But what if it finds itself in the same situation faced by Libya: having to choose between the safety of its regime or waging a confrontation with a foregone conclusion? Politicians and analysts say that Iran is now facing its most difficult challenge since the victory of Ayatollah Khomeini's revolution, or at least since the end of the long war with Saddam Hussein's regime. Ever since his return to the White House, Trump has been taking decisions that impact the whole world. He is running the world through social media posts. He is breaking rules that were previously viewed as unbreakable, from launching trade wars, imposing tariffs and sanctions, and threatening to change maps and balances of power. Iran is a major regional power that boasts human, military and economic means. But it is approaching the moment of truth Ghassan Charbel The veteran politician spoke of painful images that Iran must pause at. Hamas launched its Al-Aqsa Flood Operation and the residents of Gaza made unimaginable sacrifices, but the enclave is completely destroyed and the issue of Hamas' weapons is on the table. If the disarmament of Hamas is not possible at the moment, then the international community will demand its removal from the military conflict with Israel for several years to ensure that the Gaza reconstruction starts on the right path. It is evident that Hamas has agreed to a reduced role in Gaza after the hostage and prisoner exchange phase is complete. The politician noted that Iran has been generous in supporting Hamas, but it is incapable of saving it. He also noted that Hezbollah launched its 'support front' but could not change the course of the war in Gaza and lost its Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah — who it is seemingly incapable of replacing. Moreover, the issue of Hezbollah's weapons is on the table, not just in the demands of the international community, but the majority of the Lebanese people too. Iran could not save Hezbollah and its military presence in Syria. It could not prevent the collapse of the regime of its ally Bashar Assad and Russia did not volunteer to help. The politician then highlighted two more painful images facing Tehran. The first is its inability to continue to trade direct blows with Israel. The war on Gaza and Lebanon demonstrated Israel's military and technological superiority. It can run rampant across the skies of countries near and far. The second is the vow by the man who ordered the killing of Qassem Soleimani to use all means necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring an insurance policy for its regime: a nuclear bomb. The politician noticed that a new balance of power has emerged in the region and that Iran appears incapable of changing developments in its favor, not in Syria, Lebanon or Gaza. He noted that Iran's diminished role in Syria was coupled with Turkiye's rising influence there, which only makes things more complicated for Tehran. Trump has also reimposed his 'maximum pressure' policy on Iran. The outcomes of the wars in the region all favor this policy. The latest American raids against the Houthis are like a demand on Iran to quickly reach realistic conclusions from the painful scenes it is witnessing. Soleimani had at one point drawn up his country's line of defense in the region. He was able to breach Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. The uprooting of the Syrian link from the so-called resistance axis has severed this line of defense. Developments are unfolding rapidly in the region. New balances of power and roles are emerging. America's Trump is playing a decisive role in the region. Russia is focused on reaping a greater reward in Ukraine. The supreme leader is confronted with a difficult choice to receive a certificate of good behavior when it comes to its nuclear file and refraining from rebuilding its resistance axis and mobilizing its proxies. The decisive moment is approaching. This article first appeared in Asharq Al-Awsat.
Arab News
24-02-2025
- Arab News
What mass graves uncovered in Libya reveal about Europe's migrant crisis
LONDON: From the orange desert sand of southeast Libya, investigators were met with the unmistakable signs of yet another cruel atrocity. In crude pits dug in this remote expanse, the tattered clothing and yellowing remains of multiple victims emerged from the earth. The recent discovery of these latest mass graves in the troubled North African country has laid bare the horrific human cost of the migration crisis, exposing the ruthless exploitation of vulnerable people and the complicity of states and armed groups in perpetuating this grim cycle. For years, Libya has functioned as a key transit hub for migrants attempting to reach Europe, but for thousands, the journey ends not with the hope of a new life, but with torture, enslavement, and, in the case of those found in these desert graves, even death. The latest mass graves are not isolated tragedies. They are the consequence of a system designed to control migration at any cost — no matter, it would seem, how many bodies it leaves behind. In early February, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed the existence of two mass graves in Libya — one in Jakharrah, around 400 kilometers south of Benghazi, containing 19 bodies, and another in the Kufra desert in the southeast, where at least 30 and possibly up to 70 were found. The victims' identities remain unknown, but evidence suggests they were murdered, as many of the bodies had gunshot wounds. These graves, found near known migrant detention centers, provide further proof of the extreme abuses suffered by migrants on Libyan soil. 'The loss of these lives is yet another tragic reminder of the dangers faced by migrants embarking on perilous journeys,' Nicoletta Giordano, IOM's Libya chief of mission, said in a statement. 'Far too many migrants along these journeys endure severe exploitation, violence, and abuse, underscoring the need to prioritize human rights and protect those at risk.' These latest discoveries follow years of similar grim findings. In March 2024, another mass grave containing the bodies of 65 migrants was uncovered in the country's southwest. Yet, despite mounting evidence of the scale of abuse and killings, little has changed. The international response has been slow, and Libya's fractured governance has allowed human trafficking networks to flourish with near-total impunity. For more than a decade, Libya has been at the center of a human trafficking and smuggling network with tentacles reaching across continents. The collapse of Muammar Qaddafi's regime in 2011 amid a NATO-backed uprising plunged the country into chaos, creating a lawless environment where armed groups, militias, and even government officials have profited from the suffering of migrants. The country's vast desert borders with Chad, Niger, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia make it an attractive gateway for those seeking to reach Europe, but they also make it a potential death trap for those who fall into the hands of traffickers. 'Libya's trafficking networks aren't just criminal enterprises — they're institutionalized businesses involving state officials, armed groups, and even those tasked with stopping them,' Anas El-Gomati, director general of the Sadeq Institute, a Libyan think tank, told Arab News. 'Take Kufra, where these graves were found. It's under the Libyan National Army and Khalifa Haftar's control, yet these operations continue openly. Why? Because trafficking isn't a bug in the system; it's a feature.' Migrants attempting to cross Libya are often captured, detained, and forced into brutal conditions. Some are held in unofficial prisons run by militias, where they often face beatings, torture, rape and forced labor. Others are extorted, as families back home are contacted and pressured to pay ransoms for their release. If no ransom is forthcoming, migrants may be sold into slavery, trafficked again, or simply executed. Tim Eaton, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, explains that human smuggling in Libya operates within a broad ecosystem of corruption and armed conflict. 'It's not just about a highly integrated set of traffickers — though of course those traffickers exist. It's more widely about that system, and it's about the profits and the rents that are distributed throughout it,' he told Arab News. 'Armed groups are benefiting from both sides of the ledger — from facilitating smuggling to a degree and from the use of abusive patterns to extract labor and other things from the migrants. Plus they are able to get legitimacy and financial support from European policymakers for their work.' Indeed, this cycle of abuse is fueled, in part, by European migration policies that even mainstream political parties now say should prioritize reducing the number of arrivals over the safeguarding of human lives. Some say EU migration policies have played a significant role in shaping the crisis in Libya. Their argument: by outsourcing border control to Libyan authorities and funding the Libyan Coast Guard, the EU has effectively helped sustain a system that facilitates human trafficking rather than dismantling it. Migrants intercepted at sea are often returned to detention centers where they are subjected to further abuse. 'The most troubling part? The same forces receiving EU money to 'combat trafficking' are often the ones profiting from it,' said El-Gomati. 'It's a lucrative cycle: intercept migrants, detain them, extort them, and sometimes traffic them again. All while Europe looks the other way, preferring to keep migrants out at any cost.' This strategy of externalization has allowed European governments to distance themselves from the abuses occurring in Libya, while still benefiting from the reduction in irregular migration. The price of this policy is paid in human lives. According to the UN, more than 2,200 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean in 2024 alone, and many more perished before ever reaching the coast. The mass graves in Libya are a grim testament to the need for reform. Experts argue that without meaningful intervention, these tragedies will continue. But what should that intervention look like? 'The solution isn't more boats for the Libyan Coast Guard or more funding for detention centers,' said El-Gomati. 'We need a complete overhaul of the system. 'First, stop treating Libya as Europe's border guard. Second, create safe, legal migration pathways. Third, implement real accountability — not just for low-level traffickers, but for the officials and armed groups running these networks.' This may be wishful thinking, however, as across Europe and in the UK, public tolerance for immigration — both regular and irregular — seems to be at an all-time low. Eaton, nevertheless, agrees that securitization alone is not enough. 'Up until now, really, the prevailing approach has been to securitize this problem, to say that this is a rule of law issue, that the borders need to be enforced, that criminals need to be imprisoned. But in reality, that can never address all of the aspects of this ecosystem,' he said. Instead, Eaton suggests a long-term solution must involve addressing the economic and political incentives that sustain human trafficking in Libya. 'If it's going to be possible to convince Libyans who live in those areas to transition away from those sources of revenue, then clearly part of this is going to be looking at other, softer approaches, such as local economic development and finding pathways and alternatives for those people from these areas to find other sources of revenue,' he said. Beyond Libya, experts want to see broader international cooperation to tackle the root causes of migration. Many of those who embark on these dangerous journeys are fleeing war, poverty, and persecution. Without addressing these underlying factors, aid agencies believe no amount of border security will stop people from risking everything for a chance at a better life. The mass graves found in Libya are not just evidence of individual crimes — they are perhaps symbolic of a system that has allowed mass killings, enslavement, and exploitation to become routine. Each person buried in these graves once dreamed of something better, who risked everything for a future that was denied to them. Until there is the political will to dismantle trafficking networks, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide safe migration routes, it is highly likely that many more bodies will turn up in the desert and Libya will remain a hostage to criminality.
Arab News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
2 mass graves with bodies of nearly 50 migrants found in southeastern Libya
CAIRO: Libya authorities uncovered nearly 50 bodies this week from two mass graves in the country's southeastern desert, officials said Sunday, in the latest tragedy involving people seeking to reach Europe through the chaos-stricken North African country. The first mass grave with 19 bodies was found Friday in a farm in the southeastern city of Kufra, the security directorate said in a statement, adding that authorities took them for autopsy. Authorities posted images on its Facebook page showing police officers and medics digging in the sand and recovering dead bodies that were wrapped in blankets. The Al-Abreen charity, which helps migrants in eastern and southern Libya, said that some were apparently shot and killed before being buried in the mass grave. A separate mass grave with at least 30 bodies was also found in Kufra after raiding a human trafficking center, according to Mohamed Al-Fadeil, head of the security chamber in Kufra. Survivors said nearly 70 people were buried in the grave, he added. Authorities were still searching the area. Migrants' mass graves are not uncommon in Libya. Last year, authorities unearthed the bodies of at least 65 migrants in the Shuayrif region, 350 kilometers (220 miles) south of the capital, Tripoli. Libya is the dominant transit point for migrants from Africa and the Middle East trying to make it to Europe. The country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Muammar Qaddafi in 2011. Oil-rich Libya has been ruled for most of the past decade by rival governments in eastern and western Libya, each backed by an array of militias and foreign governments. Human traffickers have benefited from more than a decade of instability, smuggling migrants across the country's borders with six nations, including Chad, Niger, Sudan Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia. Once at the coast, traffickers pack desperate migrants seeking a better life in Europe into ill-equipped rubber boats and other vessels for risky voyages on the perilous Central Mediterranean Sea route. Rights groups and UN agencies have for years documented systematic abuse of migrants in Libya including forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture. The abuse often accompanies efforts to extort money from families before migrants are allowed to leave Libya on traffickers' boats. Those who have been intercepted and returned to Libya — including women and children — are held in government-run detention centers where they also suffer from abuse, including torture, rape and extortion, according to rights groups and UN experts.
