By Pramod Sedhain.
Despite the change of government following the uprising in 2011, Libya is still in conflict with the emergence of several militia outfits. The Libyan post-revolution transition has seen flared-up conflict in country. After the overthrow of the most provocative dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the country failed to guarantee the country’s safety and democracy. Gaddafi was murdered by rebel forces on 20 October 2011 in a culvert at his hometown in Sirte.
People had hoped that Gaddafi’s fall would see stability in the country. They had hoped that the fall of Gaddafi regime would bring democratic changes in the country. However, the revolution only changed the system but failed to secure democratic system. The six-month long civil war toppled the 42-year dictatorial regime but power-struggle still continues in Libya.
Libya’s transition is undoubtedly heading towards tragedy. Several militia groups are battling to gain political power by force. The interim authority is losing the grip of power. Libya is currently surrounded by fault line and Libya’s militia groups have overshadowed the government and leading to lawlessness. These militia groups claim to be legitimate giving threat to the entire democratic process. Libyan capital has seen several rival militias’ governments . International recognition central government operating only in the eastern city of Bayda .
Extremist groups continue to expand more territorial control and secure some of the significant energy resources. Militia groups have become a fashion with the idea that well-armed militias can easily generate income, social identity and power supremacy. The situation in Libya is getting worse with power struggle getting more chaotic and violent. Rival factions, which are more powerful than the government, have seized several places with their respective self-ruling army.
Armed fighters have hijacked people’s desire for democracy and stability. Brigades of fighters have gone out of control and unreliable central government’s initiatives to disarmament have failed. There have been growing conflicts between regional, religious and tribal groups in almost every major city with the internationally recognized government losing the major ground. Fragile ethnic and tribal balance has led to anarchism, lawlessness and impunity.
Deep division between former revolutionary factions has encouraged several radical terrorist groups. Global extremist groups have expanded their ground in Libya and their foothold is everywhere now. World’s most brutal and powerful terrorist group Islamic State (IS) has already a strong presence in Libya. Local extremist groups’ ties with global terrorist groups are the signs of growing threat and challenges to global security and regional stability.
Libya’s extremist militia factions have alliance with global terrorist networks with the country now becoming an extremist hub and recruitment centre. Libya has become the initial contact point for recruitment and training for international terrorist groups. African extremist youths’ training in Libya is sure to destabilize the entire region. Some groups already have allegiance to Islamic State (IS) terrorist group. This notorious group kidnapped 21 Egyptians there.
Libya is not only facing domestic chaotic situation but is also undergoing the biggest terrorist threat for the entire world. New international military intervention is necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks. The Western countries should not only monitor and track the terrorist activities but should need to initiate military action against them. Delay in military action will create a vacuum for radical militant groups.
Western nations should not avoid or underestimate Libya because they have moral responsibility to take the country to a democratic path. Western nations, which were involved in intervention in Libya (air and naval, arms shipment for rebels and formation the anti regime collation to topple Gaddafi regime) need to go for second intervention to disarm the militias and prevent the country from, becoming another Somalia.
Western nations, which were the architect in the task of removing the Gaddafi regime, have the moral obligation to political stability in Libya. The United States and France, especially, who led the NATO intervention campaign to topple the regime have to demonstrate another responsibility to create stability in Libya. Failure on their part will shatter the Libyan people’s hopes and the country’s future.
Warlord and extremist militia could destabilize the whole region. Growing uncertainty, instability and civil war in Libya will have direct impact on the neighbors’ fragile border in Algeria (982 km), Chad (1,055 km), Egypt(1,115 km), Niger (354 km), Sudan(383) km, Tunisia(459) km and far from the boarder like Mali situation in 2013.
The European doorstep, Libya is currently treading on a dangerous path even more than Iraq and Syria. Libya, the oil-rich North African nation was once the highest country in terms of per capita GDP in the region. Now almost country significant territory has become an armed smuggling route for extremist. The 1,759,541 sq km area nation has three traditional parts – Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica.
They have now become hostile with each other while some regions wanting to separate from Libya. Political power and economic sharing negotiation is taking place with the facilitation from the international community. But, political stability is not possible without disarming the militant groups. Therefore, short term ground intervention and formation of professional and strong state security force, disarmament of all militia and tribal groups, massive surge operation of extremist groups is important.
There is a need to deploy international peacekeepers for a certain period under the leadership of African Union (AU) on the ground. Without effective control of the borders, extremist groups, smuggling routes, as well maintaining of law and order, political solution is not possible.
