LibyaPolitics

Misurata’s Political Gathering calls for French protection of southern borders

The Political Gathering of the Deputies of Misurata called Saturday on France to protect Libya’s southern borders where smugglers and gangs exploit its lack of security.

The Political Gathering of the Deputies of Misurata headed to France on Saturday to meet with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian to discuss the Libyan crisis and holding elections.

Member of the Political Gathering Mohammed al-Ruaid told “Live” show on 218 Channel that the deputies’ visit to Paris comes upon Le Drian’s invitation.

Ruaid added that the French ambassador to Libya has visited Misurata three times this year and met with its officials.

He noted that the Political Gathering discussed with the minister the ways to resolve the crisis and hold the presidential election, adding that the delegation did not visit Italy after its Paris visit.

Southern Libya has suffered from continuous instability and inequitable distribution of economic resources due to the collapse of state institutions since the eruption of the 2011 uprising which ousted and killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Further, there is an armed conflict among Arab, Tabu, and Tuareg tribes over smuggling routes and oil fields.

On Oct. 14 and 15, several clashes took place near the southern town of Um Al-Araneb, some 950 kilometers south of the capital Tripoli, between local security and Chadian opposition militants, killing four security personnel.

On Oct. 19, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the absence of security in the southern region, expressing its concern about the rise of crime, abductions, and vandalism on government water supply infrastructure.

At a focal point in the Eastern Sahara where the borders of Sudan, Libya and Egypt meet, lies a 2,000-meter large rocky outcrop known as Jebel Uweinat, which has been neglected and subjected to looting since Libya’s 2011 revolution.

More than 60 percent of the mountain range lie in Libyans territories, while 40 percent are located on Egyptian-Sudanese borders.

In the past few years, illegal gold mining boomed at the foothills of Uweinat by Libyan armed groups and gangs coming from Sudan and Chad due to the insecurity that Libya has witnessed.

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