Militias
that were fighting pro-Gaddafi forces celebrated the passing of a no fly zone
by the UN Security Council on Libya in 2011. The resolution is known as
resolution 1973 which authorizes all necessary measures to be implemented to
protect civilians from pro-Gaddafi forces. What some countries did not notice
was that the resolution was too broad hence it resulted in the bombardment of
Libya and civilians were caught in the crossfire. With the aid of NATO Gaddafi was
defeated and killed on the 20th of October 2011. There was
jubilation throughout Libya and the international community was happy. Libyans
were celebrating the fall of a longtime so-called dictator and the likelihood
of transition to democracy. What they did not know was that they were moving
towards a failed state.
Reports
from pro-Gaddafi media indicate that when Libya was attacked, in terms of
economy it was one of the best. Opportunities were there for Libyans to
prosper, education was free, electricity was free and so many benefits. And for
those who were not involved in politics security was there and the centre was
still in control. The problem was that there was no democracy, people were not
given room to contest in elections or just to challenge Gaddafi. Gaddafi acted
like an absolute monarchy. Regardless of those setbacks in terms of democracy
the country was moving forward economically. It is reported that education was
considered a human right under Gaddafi government and it was free for all
Libyans, and if a Libyan was unable to find employment after graduation the
state would pay that person the average salary of their profession. Libya also
had the highest GDP per capita and the highest life expectancy in Africa.
Libyans also enjoyed free health care, free electricity and interest free
loans, 40 loaves of bread just cost $0.15. The fall of Gaddafi instead of
bringing everlasting joy to the people of Libya it brought misery and
insecurity.
A
year after the fall of Gaddafi, Libya was still battling to contain militias
and failing to unite people in the oil rich nation. And in the same year that
is 2012, months after the transitional government handed over power to the
General National congress the US ambassador to Libya was killed in Benghazi.
The death indicates that no one was secure in Libya and the country was fast
descending into anarchy.
There
are two centers of power in Libya and many militias are all over the country.
One of the governments is in the eastern city of Bayda and is internationally recognised
and the other one is in Tripoli. The two governments are fighting over the
control of the country and this is hindering development. With war raging on
Libyans in the eastern city of Bayda protested against deteriorating living
conditions. The protesters chanted there was no gas, no electricity, and this
has brought them nothing . With rising real estate prices the government is
failing to provide housing and people are displaced and the demonstrations
indicate the frustration that the Libyans have. The Libyans although the former
Gaddafi government cannot pass the democratic test, in terms of catering for
the welfare of the Libyan people it was the best. It will be difficult for a
Libyan ruler to appease the mass because it’s difficult for the rulers to
achieve Gaddafi’s record economically. Under Gaddafi oil companies were
nationalized which means the oil revenue was directly to the government and it
was used to uplift the standards of living Libyans.
Battles
are raging on in Benghazi and Tripoli with former allies fighting against each
other for the control of the country’s resources. And with people running away
from Tripoli and Benghazi to the eastern city of Bayda the city is overwhelmed
by the flood of people. Hospitals are also overwhelmed with patients; those who
are critically ill will find it difficult to be attended to. With all the
problems caused by war in Libya this points out to the fact that war is not a
solution in any situation. War only without a clear plan to end the political vacuum
that is brought by the fall of a longtime ruler is not an option at all. NATO
just waged the war against Gaddafi without a plan on how they will handle the
post-Gaddafi era, just the same as the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and the
vacuum that is likely to be created with the fall of Assad in Syria. The war
loads that are all over Libya are enough evidence of a failed transitional plan
by NATO. During the war in 2011 people were just united only on one objective
of dismantling the Gaddafi system not knowing how they will handle the affairs
of the state after his fall.
As
Young African Leaders Forum (YALF), we seek to find African solutions to
African problems, we believe in our ability as Africans to find solutions to
our problems. From the word go Africans should have tried to find solutions in
2011 before the situation descended into total war. There was still room for
dialogue among the Libyans but that avenue was not followed. The situation is
still tense in Libya and the only solution to end the situation is to
facilitate unconditional dialogue among the parties that are fighting and come
up with a win-win political solution. Trying to support anyone of the factions
within Libya is nowhere nearer to what is needed; there is need for an
impartial mediator to end the deadlock in Libya. With the threats of a failed
state the African Union should move swiftly to end the war. The powerful
Islamic state is taking advantage of the political vacuum that has been created
in Libya to establish its authority in territories where the two governments
are not controlling. And one of ISIL’s casualties were Egyptian Coptic
Christians which the group claimed responsibility for killing them.
As
YALF we call upon the African union to condemn a nation that violates human
rights rather than maintaining an old boys club where they shield each other
from criticism. Reports of human rights abuse under Gaddafi are always in the
media and some of the evidence are showing that Gaddafi collaborated with his
fiery critics the British’s MI6 to torture opponents. The evidence was found in
abandoned government buildings during the 2011 uprising. But it was known even
before the uprising that opponents were tortured by the country’s security
forces which means the African Union should have reigned in before the
situation reached boiling points. Instead of remaining a spectator, AU should
ensure both the two governments in Libya are prevented from gaining access to
weapons by ensuring that the Mediterranean Sea is guarded. Africa cannot have
another Somali situation of a failed state as that has repercussions in terms
of security of African nations.
Written by:
Pafungeyi Gore
YALF National Coordinator,
Zimbabwe
and
Teresa Abila
YALF Vice President I
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The YALF Communication Team