Libya

Key Issues

After Libyan autocratic leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown, militia rebel groups that were formed to oust Gaddafi control parts of the country, overseeing security in their respective areas. Some were believed to have connections to Al-Qaeda, and some have informal connections to government ministries including the police and armed forces. Unable to overcome them, the Libyan government has attempted to work with select groups, at times nevertheless clashing in conflict.

In March 2013 during a trip to Washington, then Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan appealed to the Obama admin for support in training a "general-purpose force" to provide security to democratically elected officials and government institutions. According to Zeidan, it was difficult to properly conduct basic government affairs in Libya due to the high security risks posed by militia groups throughout the country. While the Obama admin had authorized the provision of such training to take place outside the country, administrative and logistical delays, as well as concerns to US personnel regarding security risks post-Benghazi attack prevented efficient and effective implementation of such measures. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-us-inattention-to-libya-breeds-chaos/2013/10/25/946a2270-3d92-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html?utm_term=.29866c2c9cb2)

On October 10, 2013, one of such militia groups, the Libyan Revolutionaries Operations Room, with connections to the defense and interior ministries, kidnapped Zeidan in the aftermath of a US raid that led to the capture of a senior Al-Qaeda leader, Anas al-Liby, for the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. The capture led to street protests in Libya over the violation of Libyan sovereignty, and many of the militia groups took issue with what they perceived as the government's complicity that allowed for the US raid, despite the Libyan government's denial of such knowledge in a statement. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/libyan-pm-ali-zeidan-briefly-held-by-gunmen-in-tripoli/) While Zeidan was at the time being investigated for alleged corruption, the government denied that the investigation had nothing to do with his capture and referred to his capture as an "illegal abduction." Many saw the capture as a reaction to the US raid. Zeidan, however, claimed that domestic "political rivalries" were the underlying motive. Within hours of his capture, he was rescued by government security forces. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/libyan-pm-kidnapping-zeidan)

The inability of the Libyan government to exert control over the militia groups that helped them defeat Gaddafi has led to a lawlessness in the country. In addition to the disruption of basic government services and government functioning, militia groups have also seized control of select oil fields and ports, resulting in a $6 billion loss to the country. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-oil/libya-has-lost-6-billion-from-oil-protests-minister-idUSBRE9AD0RX20131114)

According to Mr. Zeidan, Libya was being utilized as a distribution center of weapons to rebel groups throughout the region, including Syria. He called on the West to help stop the arms smuggling operations in Libya. He is a voice of support for a Western-allied Libyan government and against forces of destabilization in Libya. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24470850#TWEET917321) Oil was being illegally exported as well by rebel groups. In March 2014, a North Korean oil tanker Morning Glory seized by three Libyan militia rebels left the rebel-controlled port of As-Sidra with 340,000 barrels of oil allegedly stolen from the National Oil Company. (https://www.stripes.com/news/navy-seals-take-control-of-hijacked-tanker-in-mediterranean-1.273130) Although the ship displayed a North Korean flag, North Korean officials denied the ship was theirs and de-registered the ship. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26558959?OCID=twitterasia)  At the request of the Libyan government, the ship was intercepted by the US Navy off the Cypriot coast and returned to Libya. Upon seizure of the oil tanker, the deputy head of Libya's General National Congress  ordered the release of the militia and foreign crew members arrested. Members of the General Congress were incensed by the release and accused Zeidan of not doing enough to stop rebels from exporting stolen oil. Zeidan was subsequently ousted by a parliamentary committee, upon which he fled to Germany. (https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/features/2015/9/28/morning-glory-the-ship-that-sank-libyas-prime-minister)

 In August 2017, on his first trip back to Libya since his ousting, Zeidan was kidnapped again, this time by the Tripoli Revolutionary Brigade, and released after 10 days of captivity. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/22/family-seek-answers-former-libyan-prime-minister-kidnapped-tripoli/)

References

Ignatius, David. "US inattention to Libya breeds chaos," Washington Post, October 25, 2013. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-ignatius-us-inattention-to-libya-breeds-chaos/2013/10/25/946a2270-3d92-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html?utm_term=.29866c2c9cb2)

"Libyan PM Ali Zeidan briefly held by gunmen in Tripoli," CBS/Associated Press, October 10, 2013. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/libyan-pm-ali-zeidan-briefly-held-by-gunmen-in-tripoli/) 

Stephen, Chris. "Libyan PM's kidnapping deepen fears for country's disintegration," The Guardian, October 10, 2013. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/libyan-pm-kidnapping-zeidan)

"Libya has lost $6 billion from oil protests: minister," Reuters, November 14, 2013. (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-oil/libya-has-lost-6-billion-from-oil-protests-minister-idUSBRE9AD0RX20131114)

"Libyan PM Ali Zeidan detained by militia," BBC News, October 10, 2013. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24470850#TWEET917321)

“Navy SEALS take control of hijacked tanker in Mediterranean,” Stars and Stripes, March 17, 2014. (https://www.stripes.com/news/navy-seals-take-control-of-hijacked-tanker-in-mediterranean-1.273130)

"North Korea disowns Libya oil tanker," BBC News, March 13, 2014. (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-26558959?OCID=twitterasia)

al-Khamisi, Ahmad. "Morning Glory: the ship that sank Libya's Prime Minister," Al-Araby al-Jadeed, September 28, 2015. (https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/features/2015/9/28/morning-glory-the-ship-that-sank-libyas-prime-minister)

Oliphant, Roland. "Former Libyan prime minister released after being 'kidnapped in Tripoli,'" The Telegraph, August 22, 2017. (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/22/family-seek-answers-former-libyan-prime-minister-kidnapped-tripoli/)