A strategically significant part of North Africa appears to be falling into Russia’s hands.
THE EPOCH TIMES
Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have caused the United States to lose focus on a part of North Africa that holds immense strategic value and is falling into Russian hands, according to security analysts.
Libya has vast oil wealth and ports that offer access to Europe via the Mediterranean.
But the country has been split among warring factions for years, with thousands of mercenaries from across Africa, Russia, and Syria joining local warlords battling for control.
In recent years, several political figures backed by Russia have risen to try to seize power, including General Khalifa Haftar, leader of the eastern forces based in Tobruk.
Now there is war-crimes-accused Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the 51-year-old second son of Libya’s slain dictator, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
Gaddafi’s more than 40-year rule ended in an Arab Spring uprising in 2011. As he tried to flee, he was captured and executed by rebels.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) subsequently issued an arrest warrant for the younger Gaddafi for crimes against humanity, alleging he persecuted and killed civilians.
He denied the charges but was captured by a militia and sentenced to death.
Libya began splintering in 2014, with competing factions emerging in the east and west. The militia holding Saif Gaddafi released him in 2017, and he was given “full amnesty” for his alleged crimes by Gen. Haftar.
In April 2019, Gen. Haftar advanced on Tripoli and the United Nations-backed government. Both sides received military and diplomatic support from different regional powers. One thousand mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group joined Gen. Haftar, but he failed to capture Tripoli.
A ceasefire in October 2020 led to the election of a new unity government in early 2021, and it was supposed to expel all mercenaries and take Libya to national elections that December.
Neither happened.
Instead, a Government of National Unity in Tripoli and a rival Government of National Stability in Tobruk are locked in constant dispute and battle for control. They cannot agree on a joint electoral law to put elections back on track.
“So now we have a political elite that’s wormed its way into power,” Libyan peace activist and political researcher Asma Khalifa told The Epoch Times. “We have two governments, neither of which has been elected by Libyans, but both of which are the product of continuous misdirection by corrupt politicians unwilling to let go of their positions of power and the wealth that those bring.”
“The majority of Libyans have lost hope,” said Riccardo Fabiani, North Africa project director at the International Crisis Group.
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