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‘Unprecedented Levels’ of foreign interference in Libya as the conflict rages, UN Chief says

Since 2014, Libya has been split with an internationally-recognised government controlling Tripoli and the northwest, while Haftar in Benghazi controls the east. Photo:Anadolu Agency

 

‘Unprecedented Levels’ of foreign interference in Libya as the conflict rages, UN Chief says

 

By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | JULY 9th 2020

 

On Wednesday, a warning was issued by the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the Security Council (UNSC), in regards to the ongoing conflict in Libya. He specifically spoke about the “unprecedented levels” of foreign interference that the country’s seen as of late, introducing an entirely new and dangerous phase to the 6-year-long conflict.

The Libyan conflict dates all the way back to 2011, when an uprising back by NATO led to the overthrowing and thus killing of Muammar Gaddafi, the country’s long-time leader. This led to a series of events which eventually had the country split in conflict, between the internationally-recognised government and the renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. Foreign interference is nothing new in the conflict, with the government having seen backing by Turkey, while Hafter has seen backing from Russia, Egypt, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, the present interference is thought to be on a whole other level.

“The conflict has entered a new phase with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels, including in the delivery of sophisticated equipment and the number of mercenaries involved in the fighting,” Guterres told the UNSC. “We are very concerned about the alarming military build-up around the city [Sirte], and the high level of direct foreign interference in the conflict in violation of the UN arms embargo, UNSC resolutions, and commitments made by Member States in Berlin.”

According to a confidential May report made by independent sanctions monitors and given over to the UNSC Libya sanctions committee, the interference has reached a much more concerning level. The report found that Wagner Group, a private Russian military contractor, had bolstered Haftar’s forces with a deployment of over 1,200 people in the country.

As well as this, over two dozen flights between Russia and Eastern Libya between August 2018 and August 2019 were identified by the sanctions monitors. These flights are noted to have been “strongly linked to, or owned by” the Wagner Group. Details were also listed regarding the 122 Wagner mercenaries of whom “many are highly probably operational, or have been operational, within Libya.”

“But we know about other countries' military personnel, including from those countries that accuse us, to be present on Libyan soil, East and West,” said Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, to the council after having rejected the idea of any Russian interference in Libya. He went on to call for a truce to be pushed forward by all states with influence towards Libyan parties.

Anwar Gargash, minister for foreign affairs from the UAE, had spoken to the council and told them that there were “roughly 10,000 Syrian mercenaries operating in Libya, approximately twice as many as there were six months ago.”

Egypt had also issued a warning to the government of Libya that any efforts taken to claim the city of Sirte with the backing of Turkey will lead to Egypt deploying its own armed forces. More signs of country interference in the conflict, aligning with the concerns of Guterres.

There is much to fight for, and many stakes to be considered in the conflicts within the country. The primary resource that many tend to focus on is that of the country’s oil supply. Libya is known to be rather rich with oil, making it a centre of interest.

Civilian casualties are high in Libya, not only due to direct conflict but because of famine and starvation, as the land becomes increasingly war-town, and more people lose their homes and land. Between the months of April and June this year, the UN mission had documented that at least 102 civilian deaths had occurred.

 

By Patryk Krych | © The World Daily 2020

 

 

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