According to the UN, the “continuous presence” of Chadian, Sudanese, Syrian or Russian fighters represents “always a serious threat”.
Le Monde with AFP
The number of violations detected from the arms embargo imposed on Libya decreased in 2021 compared to the previous year, but the “continuous presence” of Chadian, Sudanese, Syrians or Russian fighters represents “always a threat Serious “, consider in a report of UN experts.
Although the “intense pace of delivery” of prohibited arms has no longer courses, “the arms embargo remains totally ineffective”, affirm the authors of this interim confidential document recently submitted to the fifteen members of the Council of security and at which AFP had access on Tuesday.
For their study, which runs from January to November, the experts went in April and September in Libya and were able to go, for the first time since 2017, in Benghazi (East), Fief of Marshal Khalifa Hatar, candidate for the presidential election of December 24th. They specify to have been also in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Tunisia.
“Control of supply chains by some Member States continues, which considerably impedes the detection, disturbance or prohibition” of arms deliveries, indicates the report, without identifying these countries.
“Concilate approach of the authorities”
“On the basis of transfers in 2020, weapon stocks remain high and sufficient to supply any future conflict,” warn the authors, noting that the majority of the country remains “controlled by Libyan armed groups that benefit a conciliatory approach of the interim authorities “.
Despite their request for a departure of mercenaries, “the parties to the conflict still maintain foreign fighters among their strengths, including nationals of Chad, Sudan and Syria and members of Russian private military companies” . “The group of experts has no evidence of large-scale withdrawals that took place so far”, insists the report.
Syrian fighters supporting Tripoli defending Tripoli against the forces of Hatar are remunerated between $ 800 and $ 2,000 a month, specify the experts.
They also indicate that the charges in September of a French involvement in the South Libyan were rejected by Paris. “France has denied the involvement of its strengths in any operation against FACT [Front for Alternation and Concord in Chad] on Libyan territory”, reports the report.
Their document notes a “significantly lower in 2021” traffic on the air bridges used in 2020 to Libya from the United Arab Emirates, from Russia, sometimes via Syria, and Turkey.
Russian military flights to the east of Libya, a country also used as a technical stopover towards the Central African Republic, “decreased by 55%”, those of the Turkish army “64%”, while ” The opposite, the bonds of the Syrian Cham Wings Air company increased by 71%, probably for foreign fighters “, according to experts.