Libya marks year of fighting, fears worse to come

TRIPOLI: While the world is gripped by the coronavirus pandemic, war-shattered Libya marks one year on Saturday of its latest bloody conflict that is plunging it ever deeper into chaos.

Medical experts warn that Libya is at heightened risk of the fast-spreading COVID-19 illness, given the deteriorated public health system in the gateway country for desperate Europe-bound migrants.

As much of the world has hunkered down, militias in the south of the capital Tripoli have kept firing bullets, mortars and grenades at each other, the explosions echoing across the city.

Libya has been gripped by chaos for almost a decade, since longtime dictator Moamer Qadhafi was brought down and killed in a 2011 uprising backed by several Western powers.

It is now split between the Un-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and forces loyal to eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar, who launched his offensive to try to capture the capital on April 4 last year.

One year on, and several failed ceasefires later, “we are simply witnessing the decimation of a nation,” said analyst Jalel Harchaoui of the Clingendael Institute in The Hague.

The United Nations’ envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, threw in the towel in early March following the repeated failure of efforts to restore order, although he said his resignation was for health reasons.

A Berlin summit in late January saw Moscow, Ankara and other foreign players engaged in Libya pledge to respect an arms embargo and support a truce.

But barely 10 days later, Salame was denouncing violations and a continuous influx of foreign arms and mercenaries.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has openly sent military equipment and fighters to the GNA.

As Haftar’s offensive has so far failed to take Tripoli, said Harchaoui, Erdogan’s government has been able “to increase its presence and influence in the Libyan capital.”

In recent months, Erdogan sent hundreds of pro-turkish Syrian fighters to battle the pro-haftar forces, who are supported by Russian mercenaries Moscow denies having sent.

Armed groups from western Libya are fighting Haftar forces “in an existential battle,” said Wolfram Lacher of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. “Haftar’s forces are notorious for looting and summary executions, and they include groups that are motivated by a thirst for revenge against entire communities,” he said.

“The fear of war crimes, of collective punishment, of marginalisation under dictatorial rule means that the forces fighting against Haftar won’t give up easily.”