By Janet Ekstract
ISTANBUL (TURKISH JOURNAL) – On July 30, UN experts, independent human rights experts and the Chair of the Working Group on Mercenaries, Jelena Aparac said the continuing recruitment of mercenaries in Libya is impeding the peace process. All groups have called for the immediate exit of all private contractors and mercenaries in the North African nation. The Working Group reported that the highly-trained mercenaries include those from Russia, Sudan, Chad and Syria. The group reiterated that foreign forces and mercenaries are not only dangerous to Libya but they also threaten the security and stability of other countries in the region.
All observers and experts in the region are calling for an immediate halt of weapons transfers to these mercenaries and that all mercenary-related actors leave Libya immediately. Initially, at the first Berlin Conference, all regional actors pledged that within a three-month period they would withdraw any mercenaries or foreign forces in Libya. A sticking point was the fact that Haftar had refused to open his half of the Misrata-Sirte coastal road and was given an ultimatum of July 31 to reopen it.
Though elections are slated for December 24, many observers and analysts fear the peace process will remain hampered as long as a heavily armed mercenary presence remains in Libya. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly reiterated the need for an immediate withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces in Libya. Despite the international community offering their support for elections, just five months away, the specter of Haftar’s refusal to open his half of the coastal road last week and the knowledge that he is supported by a majority of the countries whose mercenaries remain in Libya is a worrying factor for the interim government.
On Friday, Haftar finally agreed to open the eastern half of the coastal road which now makes the transfer of goods and travel much easier throughout the country. Despite this move, analysts report that overall, there has been no agreement on key steps to move forward or a constitutional basis for elections and a budget for the Government of National Unity (GNU). Those who remain critical of Haftar ally and parliament speaker Aguila Saleh, view these setbacks as proof that eastern-based forces want to sabotage the political process. Meanwhile, Saleh and his allies in eastern Libya, accused the GNU of becoming what they label “a Tripoli government” and blame the GNU for what they claim is a failure to unify institutions. Saleh issued a warning last week that any failure to hold elections would mean that another rival administration could be set up in the east.
As long as Haftar’s sights remain set on ruling Libya as his recent election bid in Libya using false voting information and propaganda, revealed – any genuine prospects for peace could stall. A further warning sign that Libya’s progress toward peace is on shaky ground is current sentencing by Haftar’s militias of journalist Ismail Abuzreiba. Both the UN and EU condemned the sentencing. The United Nations Mission In Libya (UNSMIL) said on August 3 that it is upset by Abuzreiba’s 15-year prison sentence following a military tribunal in Benghazi. UNSMIL stated on Twitter that it’s very concerned that the journalist’s detention and trial appear to violate Libya’s laws and its international obligations on the right to a fair trial and the right to freedom of opinion and expression. The organization also stated on Twitter that it’s calling for the immediate release of Abuzreiba who is being held by Haftar’s militias without due charges.
