Former US envoy to Libya, Jonathan Winer, has criticised Libya’s entrenched power struggles, which he claims are sustained by extensive patronage networks benefiting from oil revenues, smuggling, lucrative government contracts, and illicit activities such as the trafficking of captagon.
In an article published by the Middle East Institute in Washington on Sunday, Winer argued that Libya’s political and military elite exploit these networks to maintain their grip on power. He also highlighted the illegal detention of the head of Libya’s Asset Recovery Agency as a reflection of worsening corruption, which continues to deter foreign investment, paralyse public services, and erode trust in the government.
Winer pointed out that Libya has reached its lowest-ever ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024. The country ranked 173rd, alongside Yemen, Equatorial Guinea, and Eritrea—just four places from the bottom of the index.
The former envoy cited the U.S. State Department’s 2024 Investment Climate Statement, which found that business licences in Libya are typically granted through corrupt dealings rather than objective criteria. Additionally, the World Bank’s global governance indicators have consistently given Libya a regulatory governance score of zero out of five, reflecting a complete lack of transparency and accountability in the system.
Winer also referenced a statement from the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) issued in March, which condemned the arbitrary arrest and detention of hundreds of Libyans by security forces. The UN mission expressed concern over the increasing abuse of power by security groups operating outside legal frameworks.
Libya’s worsening corruption and governance crisis continue to raise alarms among international stakeholders, as efforts to stabilise the country remain hindered by internal conflicts and systemic malpractice.
