Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1022495
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2018 8 JAMES DEBONO LIBYA'S endemic chaos since the revolution which toppled Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011 stems from the absence of any semblance of state institutions. This makes disarming and reconciling rival militias difficult if not impos- sible. While Gaddafi's Libya relied on the per- sonal charisma of its revolutionary leader who deliberately subverted any attempt to consoli- date state institutions, the institutions created after the 2011 revolution have remained frag- mented and weak. Libya presently has two rival governments – the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and the eastern-based House of Representatives (HOR) – each with its own central bank and national oil company. And both governments rely on the support of rival militias and tribal networks. Instability has also been fuelled by external interference from regional powers which have been supporting opposing sides in the Libyan conflict both politically and militarily. Coun- tries like Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have supported Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar, who has taken over eastern Libya with his army. Qatar and Turkey have been accused of providing political support for Haftar's op- ponents in western Libya. Italy and France have also clashed on what is to be done to restore order in Libya. The French have pushed for new elections to be held this year while the Italians have adopted a more cautious approach. Underlining these tensions is commercial rivalry between the two coun- tries. This is because the Libyan revolution had thwarted an agreement signed with Gaddafi in 2008, which secured a dominant position for Italy. This was secured through a commitment by then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to compensate Libya for damages incurred during colonial times. Underlying this agreement were Gaddafi's threats to inundate Italy with African migrants. In May, Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj of the GNA and General Khalifa Haftar of the self- styled Libyan National Army – which con- trols much of eastern Libya – met in Paris and agreed on a timeline to hold nationwide polls by the end of the year. But other Libyans are insisting that a new con- stitution should be voted on first in a national referendum. Agreeing on a new constitution may provide a framework for holding presiden- tial and parliamentarian elections. But the greatest obstacle to stability and in- stitution building in Libya is the power of rival militias. After the collapse of the Gaddafi re- gime, the national army was too weak to dis- arm the militias. Instead these private armies took control of oil facilities, ports, ministry buildings, airports, border posts and barracks. Militias are also deeply involved in human traf- ficking activities turning detention centres in to a business operation. Ironically their legitimacy has been enhanced by Italy's attempt to present Libya as a safe country for migrants. Militias are principally motivated by the prospect of loot- ing national resources to enrich their members. This periodically results in "arrangements" be- tween dominant militias and the exclusion of others. Subsequently these groups plot their way back to power fuelling further instability. Libya's oil wealth ensures that there is enough loot to keep this musical chairs game running for a long time. Speaking to MaltaToday, journalist and mi- gration researcher Mark Micallef explained that for roughly the last year and a half, while disagreements did exist between the various militias, these never resulted in much con- flict, maintaining the status quo in the coun- try. Micallef said that the "situation is predictable. Militias that control the status quo are given money and resources while smaller factions are not, and they are now fighting back." This may be what is happening right now in Tripoli. Street battles on Monday and Tuesday pitted the Seventh Brigade, or Kaniyat, from Tarhouna, a town 65km southeast of Tripoli, against the Tripoli Revolutionaries' Brigades and the Nawasi, two of the capital's most pow- erful factions. Reports about the wealth and conspicuous lifestyle of some Tripoli militia commanders have increased the resentment of militias who feel that they have not taken a fair share of the pie. In the absence of any sem- blance of national institutions Libya risks drift- ing further into chaos. What lies behind Libya's endemic chaos? ANALYSIS Libyan Commander Khalifa Haftar YANNICK PACE THE Nationalist Party yester- day accused the government of not being prepared to deal with the ongoing conflict in Libya and of not doing enough to help find a solution. In a statement issued yes- terday, the PN said that it was concerned by the latest devel- opments in Tripoli and the ef- fect these would have on hopes for democratic elections to be held in the country this year. Some 47 people have so far been killed, with over 130 re- ported injured as warring fac- tions battle it out for control in and around the capital. Libya's United Nations-backed Gov- ernment of National Accord (GNA) on Monday declared a state of emergency in Tripoli as fighting entered its second week. The PN said that it joined the international community in supporting the efforts of countries that were engaged in a process of mediation among the various factions, adding that the "Maltese government has again found itself unpre- pared to deal with the develop- ing situation". The PN insisted that Malta was no longer focused on what was going on in Libya resulting in Malta losing its "strong stra- tegic position in the diplomatic world" and that it was also risk- ing the lives of Maltese citizens currently in Libya. It urged the government to ensure that all Maltese citizens could return to Malta, while urging it to "safeguard Malta's reputation and national inter- ests" by directly entering ne- gotiations intended to bring about peace and stability. Allegations have no factual basis – PL Reacting to the PN statement the Labour Party accused the PN of being partisan on mat- ters of national importance. "Even in circumstances where it is important for the country to be united, and where the national interest should be a priority, the Nationalist Party chose to go down the road of confrontation through baseless arguments," the PL said. It said that statements, such as that claiming that Malta had lost its strategic position in in- ternational diplomacy makes the PN appear like a "negative party". "The Nationalist Party should stop being partisan in the way it handles every subject under the sun, and in such delicate moments avoid issuing state- ments in a hurry and without any factual basis," it said. All Maltese nationals in Libya safe Meanwhile, the Foreign min- istry said that all Maltese na- tionals known to be in Libya were safe. The ministry said it was in contact with all known Maltese nationals in the country, add- ing that it was closely monitor- ing the situation. Violence appears to be subsiding Since the fall of the Ghaddafi regime, Libya security and law enforcement in Libya has been the remit of the country's many militias. In Tripoli for example, the four largest and most influ- ential militias are the Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade, the Nawasi Brigade, the Special Deterrence Force and the Abu Slim Militia. These militias have been in- strumental in allowing the GNA to keep control over the city, acquiring a great deal of power and influence in the process. Observers and experts have pointed to the fact that these militias have infiltrated various parts of the government and have formed a cartel that pil- lages state funds. While these militias have ben- efitted from this arrangement many other armed groups have not, driving the current spate of violence. Speaking to MaltaToday on Monday, journalist and migra- tion expert Mark Micallef said that while various disagree- ments did exist between the different militias, these had never resulted in much con- flict. He said, however, that this was always going to change given that the larger militias were accumulating an ever- increasing proportion of the country's wealth. Fighting in the capital con- tinues, however it appeared yesterday that militias aligned with the GNA had consoli- dated their position against the Seventh Brigade. Despite this, the situation re- mains fluid with Libya's Home Affairs ministry advising resi- dents to avoid conflict zones. Nationalist Party accuses government of inadequate response to conflict in Libya