The podcast discusses a catastrophic flood in Derna, Libya, exposing the broken state of the country and the lack of a functional government. It delves into power dynamics in Eastern Libya, international actors involved in Libya, and the skewed perspective on the nation. The role of social media and challenges in organizing dissenting voices are also explored.
The catastrophic flooding in Libya exposed the poor infrastructure and long-standing neglect in the country, highlighting the dysfunctional nature of the Libyan state.
The control and distribution of oil revenues have been a major source of conflict between the competing governments and armed factions in Libya, hindering progress and stability in the country.
Deep dives
The Devastating Floods in Derna and the Failures of the Libyan State
Recent torrential rains and the collapse of two dams in Derna, Libya, led to catastrophic flooding, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The flood revealed the poor infrastructure and long-standing neglect in Libya, highlighting the dysfunctional nature of the Libyan state. The lack of maintenance of the dams, corruption, and mismanagement were factors that contributed to the disaster. The floods also exposed the political divisions and power struggles within Libya, with two competing governments and armed factions vying for control. The protests that followed expressed anger and frustration towards the authorities, calling for accountability and demanding that all government bodies step down to make way for emergency governments and elections. The international community, including the UN, has been heavily involved in Libya, but their efforts have not significantly improved the situation. The involvement of external actors, such as Russia, Turkey, and Arab states, further complicates the political landscape. Elections have been promised but have not materialized, leaving Libyans disillusioned. Moving forward, accountability, inclusive political processes, and support for civil society are crucial for Libya to rebuild and move towards a more stable and functional state.
The Role of Oil in Libya's Political and Security Challenges
Libya, with its vast oil reserves, faces challenges in the distribution and management of its oil wealth. The control and distribution of oil revenues have been a source of conflict between the two competing governments and armed factions. Disruptions in the oil business and frequent shutdowns of oil fields and terminals have been used as leverage by different groups to assert their control or extract concessions. The involvement of militias in smuggling and illicit oil trade further exacerbates the situation. International actors, such as Russia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the UAE, have interests in Libya and have played a role in supporting different factions. The disunity and power struggle over oil revenues hinder progress and stability in the country.
The Impact of International Actors on the Libyan Conflict
The involvement of international actors in Libya has complexified the conflict and hindered progress towards stability. Different countries have backed rival factions and armed groups based on their own interests, leading to further divisions and power struggles. Russia and Turkey, in particular, have significant influence in eastern and western Libya, respectively. Other countries, such as the UAE, Egypt, and France, have also supported specific factions. The UN's role has been questioned, with allegations of bias and a failure to empower a genuine political process. The international community needs to fulfill its legal obligations, promote accountability, and prioritize the interests and well-being of the Libyan people. Social media, while being a platform for expression, also faces censorship and repression by security agencies.
The Path Forward: Accountability, Genuine Political Processes, and Empowering Civil Society
Moving forward, Libya needs to prioritize accountability for human rights violations and corruption. This includes holding perpetrators responsible and ensuring proper vetting processes for political actors. Genuine political processes need to be established, with clear criteria and a focus on representation, inclusivity, and adherence to human rights standards. The international community should support and enable the Libyan people to organize and drive change, rather than perpetuating the status quo. This requires safeguarding freedom of expression, associations, and assembly, and providing a safe space for civil society to operate. Inclusive elections, when properly prepared and conducted, can help jumpstart progress, but they must be based on a human rights-based approach and meaningful political reforms. Additionally, the international community should be held accountable for its actions and role in Libya, and ensure they act in line with their legal obligations.
Earlier this month two dams collapsed after torrential rain in eastern Libya. Whole neighbourhoods in the city of Derna were swept into the sea.
More than 15,000 Libyans are dead or missing and the full death toll may never been known.
Since the ousting of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been riven by power struggles and currently has two governments - a UN-recognised one based in Tripoli, and another in the country's east backed by General Khalifa Haftar.
He has been calling the flooding a natural disaster but many Libyans disagree, saying the eastern government had neglected the dams despite prior warnings about their fragile condition.
There have been protests in Derna against the leadership in the region but anger is also being expressed across the country. The anguish and anger across Libya have now developed into demands for an investigation. But who will conduct this investigation?
Libya is rich in oil wealth but the country's infrastructure is crumbling and the elites are increasingly accused of rampant corruption.
Could this be a reset moment for Libya?
Shaun Ley is joined by:
Mary Fitzgerald - A writer and researcher focused on Libya and non-resident scholar for the Middle East Institute think tank.
Tarek Megerisi - Senior policy fellow with the Middle East and North Africa programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations.
Elham Saudi - Co-founder and Director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, an NGO focusing on accountability, human rights and the rule of law in Libya.
Also in the programme:
Othman Abdul Jalil - Minister for health for the Eastern Libyan government.
Noura El-Jerbi - A Libyan journalist from Derna but now living in Turkey.
Produced by Ellen Otzen and Zak Brophy
Image: A view from the area as search and rescue efforts continuing in disaster zones after the floods in Derna. Credit: Hamza Al Ahmar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.
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