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International United Nations Watch, think-tank claims that the sale of arms either directly to Libya, or to regimes which are providing military support to militias involved in the conflict, is hampering peace efforts and contributed to war crimes.

The British Government must immediately halt the sale of weapons to Libya and those countries which are fuelling the deadly civil war, says human rights group.

The group, the International United Nations Watch (IUNW), believes that the sale of arms either directly to Libya, or to regimes which are providing military support to militias involved in the conflict, is hampering peace efforts and has contributed to war crimes.

In particular the group call for an urgent investigation into the activities of Russia and the UAE, which they claim supplied rebel forces loyal to Major General Khalifa Haftar with weapons, breaking the international arms embargo.

These weapons appear to have been used against civilians and unarmed combatants found in a series of mass graves, which would be a war crime under international law.

The IUNW report,Mass Graves in Libya: Parties involved and the role of the UN, says: "The arms embargo approved by the UN Security Council in 2011 remains in effect, but no party has been punished for violating it.

"Violations of the laws of war by the armed forces and associated foreign forces have been documented, including disproportionate and indiscriminate artillery bombardment, airstrikes and drone strikes that have killed and injured hundreds of civilians and destroyed civilian infrastructure. The forces have also used cluster munitions, landmines and internationally banned booby traps in the southern suburbs of Tripoli.

"Torture, field executions, and mutilation of the corpses of fighters were also documented by these fighters. There are recent reports that at least eight mass graves have been discovered in the town of Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, and other sites on the outskirts of Tripoli contain an unknown number of bodies. The Government of National Accord confirmed reports that at least 160 bodies have been discovered in Tarhuna General Hospital, some of which may have been victims of war crimes. Tarhuna was under the control of the al-Kani Militia [a militia loyal to Major General Haftar]."

Maya Garner, a spokesperson for the IUNW commented: "The UK and its allies, which played a key role in the removal of Colonel Gaddafi's murderous regime in 2011, have failed to do enough to stabilise Libya, while profiteering from the sale of weapons to Tripoli.

"Between 2008-17 the Government approved a total of 284 arms licenses, while many more were approved to countries such as the UAE have provided weapons to some of the armed militias in a deadly proxy war aimed at boosting their regional influence. The provision of weapons either directly, or indirectly to forces in Libya must stop."

The report goes on to highlight how these militias are linked to war crimes and the mass graves which contain the bodies of women, children and men dressed in non-military clothes. It calls on the UN/International Criminal Court to fully investigate these allegations and to bring those responsible to justice.

"The International Criminal Court, which has a mandate to investigate war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Libya since 2011, issued a warrant in 2017 and another in 2018 for the arrest of armed forces commander Mahmoud Al-Warfalli, but he is still free. Al-Werfalli should be immediately handed over to the court. There were no other public warrants for crimes committed after 2011."

It goes on to say that the newly established fact-finding mission that is investigating the mass war graves and other allegations should co-operate with the International Criminal Court in its ongoing investigations.

The report goes on to set out a series of recommendations. These include:

Ms Garner concluded: "The current situation in Libya is a result of a failure by the UK and its allies to plan for a post-Gaddafi era, something former President Obama described as his worst mistake[1]. It created a dangerous power vacuum that was filled by a number of regional players and Russia which fuelled the conflict by supporting forces opposed to the internationally recognised government.

"We are deeply concerned that even the supposedly 'legal' sale of arms to the internationally recognised government or forces linked to them is preventing de-escalation. The arms embargo should apply to all sides and a renewed effort must be made to drive all sides to the negotiating table and compromise. This will only happen if the UK Government and its allies better enforce the UN arms embargo to stop sanction busting by regional players and Russia.

"Alongside the search for peace, the international community must hold those responsible to account over the allegations of war crimes, including torture, indiscriminate shelling of civilians and the execution of non-combatants - men women and children - whose bodies have been found in numerous unmarked mass graves."

ENDS

Notes to editors

International United Nations Watch (IUNW) is an international platform aiming to support and advance human rights standards, everywhere, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status.

IUNW brings together political campaigners, unionists, and human rights activists to promote, support, and advance human rights standards. That includes both civil and political rights, as well as economic social and cultural rights.

To this end, the IUNW systematically monitors UN member states to ensure they adhere to standards of rights to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, defined by International Human Rights Law.

IUNW also monitors UN organs and agencies to ensure that the principles set by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are upheld and advanced at all times and to the same standard.

[1]https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-36013703

More here:
Government must halt arm sales to Libya and countries fuelling the deadly civil war, says human rights group - Journalism.co.uk

CAIRO - 10 February 2020: Arab and Libyan newspapers commented on the results of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum held in Geneva, which resulted in the election of a new executive authority in Libya to assume the tasks of the transitional period that is supposed to end by withholding general elections at the end of 2021.

Intellectuals believe that the real challenge facing the transitional government is unifying the army and the security institutions in the country. However, others stress the importance of the role of the United Nations and the major powers in sponsoring the new government, stabilizing the ceasefire, and removing militias and mercenaries.

Participants in the forum cast their votes for a three-member presidential council and a prime minister to lead the transitional government, where Muhammad Yunus Al-Manfi was appointed head of the Presidency Council and Abdel-Hamid Al-Dabaiba was appointed head of the transitional government.

Unify the army

Ahmed Mayouf said in an article published in Ain Libya and Al-Wasat newspapers that "the government's success lies in setting its priorities and reducing its tasks as much as possible, and trying to study the steps that will achieve the state's arrival to holding elections on time."

The writer believes that "one of the most important of these priorities is to unify the army to end any future tension, create a constitutional basis for holding elections, and support the General Elections Commission."

To achieve these priorities, the writer suggests that the parliament should form a mini-government of five ministers who will take over the portfolios of foreign affairs, defense, security, economy, and justice.

He also believes that the state at this stage "does not need to develop strategies for education, health, and utilities as much as it needs to manage these facilities as they are and not to expand spending," as he asserts that the process of "unifying the army" will be one of the "most difficult files that will face the government" at this stage.

Political analyst Amr Al-Shobaki shares the writers opinion. Al-Shobaki believes that the formation of the new Libyan government "has greater chances of success if the serious risks and challenges it faces are eliminated."

The writer confirms that the last agreement came after the failure to hinder Turkey's efforts to bring extremist Syrian militias to Libya and provide unconditional support for the government of the National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez al-Sarraj.

Also, the current regional and international transformations, according to the writer's opinion, "may better help in resolving the conflict in Libya compared to previous periods," in light of the Gulf reconciliation and Egypt's return to contact with many parties in Libya, and the presence of a new American administration whose approach to the region differs from the previous administration.

"Despite these positive transformations in the internal, regional and international environment, there will remain the biggest challenge, which is the unification of security and military institutions," he added.

The role of the major powers

Writer Abdullah bin Bijad Al-Otaibi, in the Emirati newspaper Al-Ittihad, asks: Is this the end of ten years of chaos, terrorism, internal strife, Turkish colonialism, and the fundamentalist incursion of the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda and ISIS? ....Is it an end to the Libyan tragedy and international and regional conflicts over Libya's oil and wealth?

I hope the answer is yes, but the mind is more inclined to wait and think carefully to read the upcoming developments.

The countries that invested billions of dollars in the Libyan chaos in the region still exist and are managed by the same policies, and the agents and mercenaries are still in their positions with their money and weapons, and therefore it is good to monitor the positions and movements in the next few months because they have a lot to tell," Al-Otaibi explained.

Furthermore, he affirmed that the United Nations can protect the new authority by taking firm stances against any violation of the agreement, which can benefit from all the support it receives on the Arab and international levels.

On a similar note, Jalal Aref, a writer for Egyptian news, thinks that "the tasks entrusted to the transitional authority are numerous and difficult, and the complex internal situation requires great efforts to unify state institutions, end the foreign military presence and restore stability, to reach the crucial elections before the end of the year."

The writer also asserted the necessity that the major powers "shoulder their responsibilities by agreeing to freeze their conflicts in Libya, and adhering to international resolutions that stipulate the exit of all foreign fighters and the deportation of thousands of mercenaries."

Spokesperson of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Ahmed Al-Mesmary also stated in a phone-in that the new interim government that formed after the election of a new prime minister and a new presidential council must prioritize dismantling militias, forcing out mercenaries and ending Turkish military presence in western the country.

The LNA spokesperson stressed that the prime role of the new interim government must be providing services for citizens, while the mission of the new presidential council has to be fulfilling all agreements.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) underlined that Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dabiba has to form a government within 21 days and that the Tobruk-based elected House of Representatives has to endorse it also within 21 days.

The transfer of power from Fayez al-Saraj government to the new government takes place once the endorsement is made. In case the house does not endorse Dabibas government, the decision will be in the hands of the Libyan National Dialogue Forum.

It is worth noting that the new Chair of the Presidential Council is Mohamed Menfi, and the other two members are Mossa Al-Koni and Abdullah Al-Lafi. Dabiba-Menfi list received the necessary votes in the ballot held by the UN-fostered Libyan National Dialogue Forum Saturday, and its task is to pave the way for the elections scheduled for December 24, 2021.

Libya has been in chaos ever since the 2011 overthrow and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in a NATO-backed uprising, with warring rival administrations battling for power. Since the downfall of Kadhafi, Libya has become a key route for irregular migration from Africa into Europe, across the Mediterranean Sea.

Egypt's role

Several countries seek to solve the Libyan crisis in various ways, most prominently Egypt, which is currently hosting the third meetings of the Libyan Constitutional Track running from February 9-11 in Hurghada, in the presence of delegations of the House of Representatives and the Supreme Council of State under the auspices of the United Nations.

In January 2021, the Libyan Constitutional Committee meetings were also held in Hurghada for a period of three days, in the presence of members of the House of Representatives and the State Council sponsored by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.

At the end of 2020, a Libyan meeting was held in Cairo between representatives of the Libyan House of Representatives and the Supreme State Council in Libya, as part of the efforts sponsored by the countries of the region to support the path of a political solution in Libya led by Egypt.

In September 2020, Egypt's Hurghada hosted meetings between Libyan military and security leaders representing the east and west of the country, to agree on the military and security tracks.

Egypt earlier announced an initiative, dubbed the Cairo Declaration, which posits a Libyan-Libyan resolution as a basis for resolving the countrys conflict, drawing on earlier international efforts, including the Berlin conference.

In July, the Egyptian House of Representatives has authorized President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to take necessary measures to protect national security, giving a green light for the president to send troops to Libya.

This came in a closed session on protecting the Egyptian and Libyan national security against terror threats. The session was attended only by the Parliament members and the general secretariat of the House.

A week earlier, Sisi said at a meeting with Libyan tribal chiefs in Egypt that any Egyptian military intervention in Libya may only materialize upon a request by the Libyan people and permission from the Egyptian House.

According to Article 152 of the Egyptian constitution, the state has to seek the Parliaments approval before declaring war or sending its forces in combat missions.

The members attending the session are not authorized to disclose any details of the discussion inside this secret meeting.

During his meeting with the tribal chiefs on July 16, Sisi said Egypt has always stood by a peaceful solution in Libya through encouraging negotiations between Libyan factions. However, it will not stand idly as it watches activities that threaten Egypts national security.

Egypt has the strongest Army in the region and Africa, he said, adding that it is, however, wise and does not assail or invade other territories.

He noted that in case the Egyptian forces enter Libya, they will be led by tribal leaders carrying the Libyan flag. He added that the army intervention in Libya has to be approved by the Egyptian House of Representatives.

Sisi promised that Egypt will intervene "only at the Libyans' request and withdraw upon their order.

Follow this link:
Libyan Presidency Council: What are the main challenges facing the new authority in Libya? - Egypttoday

In a week, Libya has rescued more than 1,500 would-be migrants off its west coast, a non-governmental organisation said.

"The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee said.

On Wednesday alone, 240 African migrants were rescued from two boats off the port city of Al-Khums, said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Abdel Aali of the coastguard.

"We encountered difficulties in getting the (migrants from the first boat) on board, but the second group showed less opposition," he said.

Migrants intercepted off the Libyan coast object to being returned to the country, preferring to wait for humanitarian rescue ships.

Despite unabated violence in Libya since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011, the country remains an important transit point for migrants fleeing instability in other parts of Africa and the Middle East and seeking to reach Europe.

International agencies frequently denounce the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres.

Veronica Alfonsi, a spokeswoman for the Spanish aid ship Open Arms, confirmed on Wednesday that around 200 people had been returned to Libya.

"Men, women and children taken back to Libya against their will," the charity's founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter.

More than 1,200 migrants and asylum-seekers died while crossing the Mediterranean in 2020, according to the International Organization for Migration.

See more here:
Over 1,500 migrants rescued off Libya coast in week - WION

Libya has rescued more than 1,500 would-be migrants off its west coast in the past week, a non-governmental organisation said.

"The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee told AFP.

On Wednesday alone, 240 African migrants were rescued from two boats off the port city of Al-Khums, said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Abdel Aali of the coastguard.

"We encountered difficulties in getting the (migrants from the first boat) on board," but the second group "showed less opposition," he said.

Migrants intercepted off the Libyan coast object to being returned to the country, preferring to wait for humanitarian rescue ships.

Despite unabated violence in Libya since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011, the country remains an important transit point for migrants fleeing instability in other parts of Africa and the Middle East and seeking to reach Europe.

International agencies frequently denounce the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres.

Veronica Alfonsi, a spokeswoman for the Spanish aid ship Open Arms, confirmed to AFP on Wednesday that around 200 people had been returned to Libya.

"Men, women and children taken back to Libya against their will," the charity's founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter.

More than 1,200 migrants and asylum-seekers died while crossing the Mediterranean in 2020, according to the International Organization for Migration.

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Libya rescues over 1,500 migrants off coast in week - Yahoo News

After about seven years of frozen diplomatic relations between Greece and Libya, our country regains diplomatic representation on Libyan soil.

Why was this specific time was chosen?

As Libya will have an election at the end of the year, coordinated by the new caretaker prime minister who will immediately form an interim government, Greece is reactivating its diplomatic channels.

In particular, after the developments at the UN regarding Libya where it was decided to change the political situation, the Greek Embassy in Tripoli will immediately reopen, as announced by the Greek Foreign Ministry.

At the same time, the necessary procedures for the opening of the Consulate General of Greece in Benghazi will be launched.

Diplomatic sources tell Sputnik Hellas that the Greek side wants to have an active role in the region after the fall of Fayez al-Sarraj (who co-signed the illegal Turkish-Libyan memorandum to steal Greek maritime space).

Greek-Libyan diplomatic relations remained virtually frozen after the fall of Gaddafi and the subsequent suspension of the Greek embassy in Libyan territory.

In the midst of the development of the Libyan civil war, the Greek embassy in Tripoli suspended its operation on July 31, 2014.

Its last diplomatic action, in cooperation with Greek supervisory authorities, was to transfer 186 Greek and foreign citizens (Chinese, Belgians, British), who finally arrived in Piraeus with the Salamis frigate.

Greek-Libyan relations returned to the forefront in late 2019 when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoan and Sarraj signed a memoranda to recognises a common Turkish-Libyan maritime border, bypassing Greek rights and the UN Law of the Sea.

After Sarrajs departure, Greece wants to show a more active role in the region, said Kostas Yfantis, a professor of International Relations at Panteion University.

It is worth emphasising that the political relations between Greece and Libya are not good, especially after the signing of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, he continued.

For his part, Deputy Professor for International Politics at the Democritus University of Thrace, Sotiris Serbos, said that developments regarding the transitional government in Libya, does not change anything regarding the role that Turkey has in Libya.

Those who make up the transitional presidency have no contact with General Khalifa Haftar or with the president of the elected Libyan parliament in Tobruk, Aguila Saleh Issa (who opposes the Turkish plans), he said.

Of course, Turkey is also satisfied with this development, he added.

This is one of the reasons why, according to the professor, Greece decides to make a change in strategy.

Greeces diplomatic moves are aimed at better capturing our position. There should be a negotiating leverage of developments, within the geopolitical bra de fer that is taking place in Libya with players inside and outside the country, the professor continued.

As he pointed out, it cost Greece that they had no information about developments in Libya since it did not maintain an embassy there.

So this has to do with the fact that two Turkish-Libyan memoranda were signed for maritime zones and military cooperation, something that Greece did not realize until they were signed, he signed.

This does not mean, as he clarifies, that Greece could have done something to prevent it, however the balances may have been formed differently.

Our country clearly needs its own unfiltered channel of communication with a country like Libya, the professor concluded.

The new Prime Minister of Libya and Greece

It is recalled that Mohamed Menfi, the new caretaker Prime Minister of Libya, was deported from Greece at the end of 2019, after the signing of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum, while he was the ambassador for Libya in Athens.

Other diplomatic sources estimate that the new Libyan prime minister will not cause any problems with Greece despite the fact that he was expelled as ambassador as he is transitional and of limited power to proceed with major changes.

Participants in the dialogue on Libya, under the auspices of the UN, chose him to undertake to lead the country to elections, on December 24.

The caretaker Prime Minister will have to form an interim government in 21 days and present his program to Parliament for approval.

If he succeeds, he will have another 21 days to receive a vote of confidence from parliament.

See original here:
Why Greece Is Changing Its Libyan Strategy And What Is Turkey's Role - Greek City Times - GreekCityTimes.com