The Foreign Minister of the Libyan Interim Government strongly condemned the planting of mines, as it is one of the most prominent practices that constitute a blatant violation of human rights and humanitarian international law in Libya.
This came in response to the statement of the Head of the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Stephanie Williams, regarding the death of two miners in the south of Tripoli. Williams said that “the indiscriminate planting of explosive devices in civilian neighborhoods by forces affiliated with the Libyan National Army, have since late May reportedly killed and injured 81 civilians and 57 non-civilians, including mine clearance workers, which is a potential violation of international law.”
In a statement issued on Sunday, the eastern based foreign ministry said that the planting of mines is a crime that is unique to “criminal terrorist militias” affiliated with the “unconstitutional”, “non-accredited”, and “expired” Government of National Accord. He pointed out that those who fight among the GNA’s ranks are “terrorists” and “internationally wanted people” who have planted mines and explosives in the cities of Benghazi and Derna during the war that the LNA waged on behalf of the world. Those militiamen are now supported by thousands of mercenaries sent by Turkey to Libya to fight against the LNA and repeat their crimes made in Syria by planting mines and bombing houses, buildings, lands and farms.
“The Ministry is categorically denying these allegations claimed by Wiliams, wondering how the Special Representative of the Secretary-General can build her information from unreliable sources and social media pages funded by irregular, terrorist and criminal armed groups or from external parties who wish to destabilise security and stability in Libya,” the statement said.
The Ministry stressed that “the LNA are professional, regular forces that respect international and humanitarian conventions, laws and customs, and the spokesperson for the Commander-in-Chief of the LNA has stated in several meetings that it is in full compliance with the rules of engagement, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law, adding that the principle of protecting civilians is an essential element in its missions, and during the war on terror in Benghazi, Derna and the rest of the Libyan cities, the armed forces never resorted to planting mines, but sometimes withdrew from their positions in order to spare civilians the indiscriminate shelling by criminal and terrorist militias when they were tightened down on them by the forces of the LNA.
“The cities of Benghazi and Derna suffered and are still suffering many of the remnants of war and mines laid by terrorist and criminal militias, without the UN or the international community providing any kind of support or humanitarian assistance,” the ministry said, noting that in 2015, the Libyan Interim Government called on a number of international organisations and UN country missions, through the Libyan mission standing at the UN in Geneva, to provide it with mine-detection equipment, but unfortunately no party has cooperated in providing this humanitarian support.”
“In the context of the urgent need to support Libya for disposal and mine clearance, the Ministry looks forward to cooperating with the UN Support Mission in Libya in the field of research and mine clearance, and to provide technical support, training and equipment that contributes to reducing the risks of IEDs, mines, explosives and unexploded ammunition,” the ministry added.