Libya’s Request to Trade Arms: The Illicit aid to Terrorists

The illicit trade of weapons, fuel and ammunition across the borders from Libya to Algeria and Tunisia since 2011 has created an immense conflict for the United Nations and the International community. According to Al Arabiya News, since the death of Ghaddafi in 2011, Libya’s Prime Minister, Abdullah al-Thinni has been waging a war with the rival armed factions.

This has resulted in the Islamic State and Ansar-al Sharia to utilize Libya as an OPEC member and have a foothold in the region. According to the NY Times, “Libya has been essentially lawless for 4 years.” In 2011, UN Security Council placed an arms embargo upon the Libyan government to stop ay weapons from ending up in the hands of Ghaddafi supporters.

The recent development is that Libya has asked the UN Security Council to end the embargo and allow for weapons trade. Fox news points out that Libya is making this request after the Islamic State beheaded twenty one Coptic Egyptian Christians and that this deal request simply will not be granted. There is too much concern from countries like the United States that the arms will end up in the hands of terrorists- a threat that cannot manifest. In 2013, Belarus exported 3,000 tons of ammunition to Libya that ended up being distributed to various autonomous groups. Furthermore, in March of last year, 23 assault rifles, 70 handguns, and thousands of tons of ammunition simply went missing at the Tripoli Airport. (Ny times).

The future outcome of this proposal looks improbable. According to ABC, eight member states of the UN Security Council have already put a hold on Libya’s request for a dozen fighter jets, tanks and weapons under the rationale that these materials simply cannot and will not fall into the wrong hands. A UN report stated that Libya needs a maritime force to be able to control the weapons trade in the country.

On Monday, Tunisia seized weapons coming from Libya from a “weapons cache” fifteen kilometers outside of Ben Guerdane in the southeast region. The international dynamic will be interesting as it is determined the extent to which the illicit trade of weapons is considered a prohibition regime worthy of international support.

 

AFP. “Tunisia Seizes Arms Haul near Border with Libya.” DailyMail.com. N.p., 9 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

“HOMEU.S. UN Diplomats Put Hold on Libya’s Request for Jets, Tanks.” ABCnews.go. N.p., 10 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.
Associated Press. “UN Report Calls for Tightening of Libya Arms Embargo.” Foxnews.com. N.p., 2 Mar. 2015. Web.

Nichols, Michelle. “U.N. Experts Concerned Libya Arms Could Be Diverted to Militias.” Http://english.alarabiya.net. N.p., 7 Mar. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

Reuters. “Libya Needs International Maritime Force to Help Stop Illicit Oil, Weapons: U.N. Experts.” New York Times. N.p., 26 Feb. 2015. Web. 12 Mar. 2015.

U.S. defends capture of al-Libi in Libya—CBS

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday defended the capture of a terrorism suspect by American Special Forces in Libya, saying complaints about the operation from Libya and others are unfounded. Kerry said the weekend seizure in Tripoli of suspected al Qaeda operative Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai — known by his alias, Abu Anas al-Libi — complied with U.S. law. He said the suspect was a “legal and appropriate target” for the U.S. military and will face justice in a court of law. Kerry added it was important not to “sympathize” with wanted terrorists. CBS News correspondent David Martin reports al-Libi is being held on a Navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea where he will be interrogated about his many years as a leading member of al Qaeda, before being sent to New York for criminal prosecution. Read more here.