The resigned UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily said Libya dominated by gangs involved in smuggling operations, warning of a deteriorating security situation in the country.
In an interview with the UN website on Monday, Bathily stated that there is little hope for medium or long-term improvement in the security situation. He pointed out to the dominance of groups involved in various smuggling operations, including human trafficking, metals like gold, and drug trafficking.
He added that a solution in Libya cannot be reached as long as the main players in the country continue to monopolize the political process. He emphasised that Libyan leaders during past transitional stages continued to compete and were not genuinely interested in stabilising the country.
Regarding the proliferation of armed groups in the capital, Tripoli, Bathily stated that Libya has become an “open supermarket for weapons” used in internal political competition between armed groups, as well as in arms deals and an arms race with its neighbors.
He further commented that the security situation has become increasingly concerning for citizens as these groups compete for more power and control over the country’s wealth, leading to heightened tensions throughout Libya, especially in the west.
The UN diplomat believes that Libya’s geopolitical position has garnered renewed interest from regional and international powers due to international and regional crises, including the war in Ukraine.
“At the same time, the war in Sudan has had an impact on the security situation in Libya in recent months, and beyond the direct southern borders, there is the crisis in the Sahel region, which has worsened in recent months, including in Mali and Burkina Faso, and of course, the situation of refugees in Chad, all of which have had a significant impact on the internal situation in Libya,” he said.
Last month, the former UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily resigned from his position, citing significant challenges in pushing forward the political process due to the self-serving interests of Libya’s leaders.
Bathily submitted his resignation to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressing his concerns over the inability of the United Nations to effectively support Libya’s political journey amidst such leadership challenges.
Appointed in September 2022, Bathily has publicly criticized key Libyan leaders for their deliberate efforts to thwart international peace initiatives and their continuous stalling of the electoral process. He pointed out that Libya has turned into a hotbed of intense rivalry among regional and international actors competing for control over the country’s strategic resources, making a peaceful solution increasingly elusive.
