Russia, Turkey, UAE and Qatar violated arms embargo to Libya, UN report said

By TOC On Sep 10, 2020

NEW YORK, (BM) – A number of countries, including Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the parties to the Libyan conflict supported by them, have been seen in violation of the UN embargo on arms supplies to Libya, the Associated press (AP) reports, citing a report from the UN sanctions oversight committee of experts, learned BulgarianMilitary.com.

The embargo was also violated by 11 companies, including PMC Wagner, which, according to experts, provided 800-1200 mercenaries in May to help the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Khalifa Haftar.

According to observers, Russia transported at least two types of weapons to Libya: the MiG-29 fighter, which operated from the Al-Jufra airbase, and the Su-24 tactical front-line bomber, which took off from the Al-Jufra and Al- Kadim. In addition, an unidentified private military company with ties to Russia has donated a “modernized version of the main battle tank.”

In turn, according to the committee, PMC “Wagner” to support the operations of the LNA transported “private military operatives”, equipment and two armored personnel carriers. At the same time, the “operatives” participated in the withdrawal of LNA detachments from Beni Walid on May 27. On July 1, the presence of PMC Wagner forces was recorded at five air bases: Al-Jufra, Brak al-Shat, Gardabiya, Sabha and Wadden, and on the territory of the largest oil field in Libya, Ash -Sharara.

Experts claim that Russia also supplied LNA with cargo that was delivered by air from the Russian Federation through Syria to the eastern part of Libya.

In addition to PMC Wagner, the UN accused 10 more companies of violating the arms embargo that provided logistical support to the LNA – airlines registered in Kazakhstan, Syria, Ukraine, Tajikistan, as well as two companies from the UAE.

The committee noted that the supply of arms to Libya by Turkey since 2019 and the UAE since January 2020 were “large-scale, egregious, with complete disregard for the sanctions measures.”

In particular, Ankara sent military personnel, foreign fighters, electronic warfare equipment, anti-tank guided missiles, combat drones, self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, artillery, anti-aircraft missiles, frigates, and a fighter-attack aircraft to Libya. The UAE, in turn, deployed military personnel, armored personnel carriers, patrol vehicles, fighters in Libya.

The committee stressed that both sides of the conflict in Libya – the Government of National Unity (GNA) in Tripoli and the LNA – were actively supplied by air: for example, goods from the UAE were delivered to eastern Libya and western Egypt, and from Turkey to the western regions of Libya.

In addition, the parties to the conflict and their supporting countries, as well as Egypt and Syria, failed to inspect ships and aircraft for the import of military cargo into Libya, experts added. The UN mentioned that five ships heading to the ports of the GNA, and two ships going to the ports of the LNA violated the embargo.

AP reports that the agency’s inquiries to the Permanent Missions of the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Qatar to the UN about this information were not answered. An employee of Turkey’s Permanent Mission to the UN, on condition of anonymity, said that Ankara supports the UN committee of experts and the NTC, and rejected accusations against Turkey of violating the arms embargo.

In Libya, for a long time, two executive bodies have existed in parallel: the NTC Faiz Sarraj sitting in Tripoli and the interim cabinet of Abdullah Abdurrahman at-Thani, operating in the east of the country and supported by the LNA. According to Western media reports, Haftar’s forces are supported by Russia, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. On the side of the government in Tripoli, in turn, are Turkey, Qatar and Italy.

Libyan civil war

Having ruled the country since 1969, Muammar Gaddafi was ousted and killed in the 2011 civil war. As a result, the country found itself in a situation of dual power: in the east, a parliament is sitting in Tobruk, supported by the Libyan national army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and in the west, in Tripoli, a government of national accord.

In Libya, armed clashes are currently taking place between supporters of different leaders. The country is led by the Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Prime Minister Fayez Saraj, the “eastern government” led by Abdullah Abdurrahaman at-Thani.

The eastern government is supported by the commander of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar.

Recall that January 13 in Moscow, negotiations were held between the heads of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalif Haftar and the Government of National Accord (GNA) Faiz Sarraj. Also present were members of the Foreign Ministries of Russia and Turkey.

On the meeting the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has notified Russia about the conditions for continuing negotiations on the signing of a peace agreement in Libya.

According to the requirements of Haftar, the militias operating in Libya are required to surrender weapons in the period from 45 to 90 days. This process should be controlled by a special commission created by the LNA together with the UN.

Haftar also refused to recognize Turkey as an intermediary in resolving the situation in Libya, since the Turkish side is not neutral and supports the Government of National Accord (GNA).

At the same time, the GNA is actively supporting Turkey, and Egypt and Saudi Arabia are on the side of the LNA. Its unofficial allies are France and the UAE.

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