Western Libyan militias continue their terrorism to destabilize the state
Armed militias are a major obstacle to any attempt to stabilize the African country. From armed clashes to the detention and torture of illegal immigrants to the kidnapping and assassination of civilians and officials, the armed militias in western Libya have committed numerous violations, in addition to attempts to disrupt any solutions that could resolve the crisis, which has entered its twelfth year.
Persistent violations
Amnesty International last raised the issue in a statement saying that one of these “rogue” militias – the largest in western Libya – was continuing its terrorism and extremist operations, demanding that the national unity government (which has expired and controls Tripoli) stop violations by armed militias in Tripoli.
Militia criminalization
Militias in western Libya have gained “false” legitimacy from the authorities, says Mohammed al-Emami, a Libyan political analyst, who points out that despite being given formal designations, their criminal behavior remains the same, pointing out that the problem lies in the system in which armed militias join the police sector, in the form of groups, not individuals; “This made them operate under the same militia system that they were following in their footsteps before they were integrated into the regular security forces.”
He added that giving legitimacy to these undisciplined militias is catastrophic, whether by naming them with official names or incorporating groups into state agencies and granting them funds, pointing out that in western Libya, it has become “a regime that co-exists with violence, where armed groups have grown in strength by dominating state assets or businesses, and this has worsened with the support of the Central Bank of Libya.”
“He said militias use their control of ports and airports to direct smuggling operations, even if they are not directly involved, as they tax smugglers to allow them to operate within their area of control, and this has caused a struggle among militias seeking to control smuggling chains.”
