Libya Calls for Weapons and International Support at the UNGA

At the UN General Assembly, Aguila Saleh Iissa, president of the Libyan House of Representatives, asked international community  to either supply the Libyan government with weapons and additional support or admit that the divided country “must face terrorism alone”.

The Libyan official blamed the international community for not taking the situation in Libya seriously and turning a blind eye to terrorism, which is no longer an acceptable attitude.

Since the death of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been torn apart between rival militias and Al Qaeda-associated groups and a weak central government. In July, the Misrata Militia took control of Tripoli, forcing the government to move to Tobruk. The airport in Tripoli was closed due to Militia bombardment. Saleh Issa said that terrorism now stretched from Iraq to Algeria, threatening the Sahel.

Morocco and Tunisia called for dialogue to resolve the crisis, but the country is riven with conflict and a negotiated settlement seems unlikely. Western governments have avoided getting involved in Libya because of the complex and divided situation on the ground. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution for an international arms embargo on Libya and called for sanctions on individuals and groups involved in the violence. This has not worked in Syria, and seems unlikely to work in Libya.

Unidentified aircraft bombed Islamic militia in Tripoli in August. Subsequent reports claimed these were planes from the UAE with Egyptian ground support, according to a US official quoted by Reuters, Newsweek, and the New York Times.

Libya’s economy suffered last year from rebel groups striking at oilfields, refineries, and ports. However, production and exports of oil have since been restored. A senior lawmaker told Reuters that Libya’s deficit could more than double to $15 billion this year, even further restricting the Libyan government’s room to maneuver.

The implication of the West’s refusal to get involved in Libya is that neighboring countries in the region will have to resolve the situation and restore order. For the West, Libya is perhaps now too hot to handle.

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