Concerns increased about the ability of the Libyan security apparatus to secure the electoral process during the past days, as the Minister of Interior in the National Unity Government, Khaled Mazen, said that “the widening of security breaches threatens the integrity of the elections and their conduct in a conditionally safe manner.”.
The statements raise an important question, which is: “Can the security apparatus in Libya secure the electoral process?” Here, the Libyan writer and political researcher Ezz El-Din Aqeel answered, saying: “Holding elections in light of the current situation is a heinous crime, for which the international community bears the responsibility.“.
The Libyan writer and political researcher stressed, during his interview with “Sky News Arabia”, that “security is the biggest challenge facing Libya as a whole, not just the electoral process, as the country suffers from security chaos, unlike the armed militias’ control of the land since the fall of the regime of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.” .
‘Unqualified device’
The Libyan researcher, Muhammad Al-Hilawi, shared his opinion with Aqeel, stressing that “the police apparatus in Libya is not qualified to secure the first entitlement in the history of Libya, especially after 10 years of armed conflict that exhausted everyone.”
He added to “Sky News Arabia”, that “the Libyan security apparatus is under the control of the armed militias deployed in the west of the country, and this was evident after those armed militias rejected some of the candidates, especially Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.”.
And he added, “Those threats and others were disclosed to everyone through the Minister of Interior, who warned of violations and security breaches that threaten the entire electoral process, and these official warnings reveal the seriousness of the impasse facing the future of stability in the country, not just the holding of elections.”
The Libyan researcher added, “The international forces that are involved in the conflict play an important role in the equation of candidacy and winning and imposing security as well, by clipping the nails of the militias and their supporters by imposing harsh sanctions.”
Despite the security challenges, the Libyan Interior Ministry is seeking to make the elections a success, as it is the real solution for the Libyans in terms of security, political and economic stability, as a “comprehensive security plan” has been drawn up to secure the elections, according to officials.
A major operations room was also activated at the ministry’s headquarters, in direct coordination with the Electoral Commission. In this context, international bodies, led by the United Nations, announced the provision of logistical and training support to support the Libyan elections.
Free fall
Following the events of February 2011, the security apparatus was subjected to a “studied liquidation” process, according to observers. In this regard, Aqeel considered that the Libyan security apparatus “does not receive any external support, but rather the opposite support.”
He added that the security apparatus “was subjected to a process of dismantling and free fall after the collapse of the Gaddafi regime, in addition to the theft of important security files, which allowed the militias to control the land.”
He continued, “The security apparatus is infiltrated. The security decision is not arranged and not structural. It is a multi-priority apparatus and affiliations as a result of the control of militias ostensibly affiliated with the state, but they steal the wealth and capabilities of the people for their own interests.”
The past few days witnessed many security breaches, as armed militias closed the headquarters of the Electoral Commission in the city of Gharyan, northwest of the country, by force of arms, in contrast to calls for incitement and threats..
Despite these challenges, Libyans have high hopes for these elections to restore stability to their country, after a decade of turmoil and armed conflict, but some fear a setback that will bring the situation back to ground zero..
The elections are scheduled to take place on December 24, when Libyans choose their president for the first time through direct ballot.
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