The UN has got it wrong on Libya

The United Nations peace proposal for Libya is a non-starter.

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Published: Thu 11 Jun 2015, 10:06 PM

Last updated: Wed 8 Jul 2015, 2:50 PM

The draft is full of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’, and the onus to make it a success is on the warring factions. Rather than underlining a clear-cut strategy on how to disarm the militant groups and kick-start a political process, the roadmap envisaged by the world body is quite confusing. For instance, it calls for creating a legitimate armed force and says that the parliament elected in 2014 is the only legislative body.

It appears that members of the commission, who jotted down this peace plan, are too naïve or they are ignorant of ground realities. The parliament sitting in Tobruk is the bone of contention, as militant groups do no acknowledge it. As far as raising army is concerned, the plan has come a cropper several times since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. Since then Libya had descended into chaos and anarchy.

The peace plan unveiled in Morocco by UN special envoy Bernardino Leon calls for a one-year unity government and is subject to consensus from all the rival groups. Though no mechanism has been spelt out on how all groups will be on board, it is widely believed that a carrot and stick policy will be applied.

Last but not the least, the UN has conveniently ignored the inconvenient reality that Daesh is active in Libya. The dreaded militia has managed to gain a foothold in Derna and Sirte, and local groups are joining them. In such a situation, it is almost impossible to cobble together a political alliance or a unity government, as the militia doesn’t believe in it.

It seems the world body has missed the bus in Libya. The logical solution is to exterminate the militant groups and subsequently initiate a process of nation-building. Only that will put Libya back on track to stability.


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