Future of Libya's mercenaries worries international community

The situation in Libya continues to raise concerns within international society, especially in neighbouring countries. Foreign mercenaries operating in Libya have long been one of the main challenges to be faced in trying to achieve stability in the country. The international powers insist on the need to expel these mercenaries, who include Syrian, Sudanese, Turkish and Russian militiamen.

According to UN figures, there are around 20,000 foreign forces on Libyan territory, which the organisation considers "a violation of national sovereignty". However, this issue creates discord because, if these troops are expelled from Libya, they may move to other parts of the region, increasing instability.

Sudan has been one of the latest countries to warn of "the danger of returning mercenaries to their country with their weapons". Sudan's foreign minister, Maryam Al-Mahdi, said that "this represents a threat to the countries in the region". 

Al-Mahdi met with her Libyan counterpart, Najla Al-Manqoush, in Qatar at an Arab ministerial meeting at the request of Egypt and Sudan to discuss the countries' development and the crisis of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Sudan's foreign ministry said in a statement that the summit discussed "the issue of foreign mercenaries in Libya".

Al-Manqoush, on the other hand, noted "the urgent need to work with the Sudanese authorities and unify efforts on issues of common interest".

"It is essential to consider this issue as part of regional security," Al-Mahdi said. She also stressed the need to "think about and discuss mechanisms for peacekeeping, demobilisation and reintegration of these armed men and their assimilation into projects that support stability in their country".

In January 2020, 2,500 mercenaries from Syria landed in Libya with thousands of weapons and ammunition. These Syrian units arrived in the North African country on Turkish planes. Taking advantage of the precarious situation of many of Syria's young people, out of work after years of conflict, Ankara has managed to deploy thousands of Syrian mercenaries in exchange for a salary. The same is true of Moscow, which has set up recruitment offices in Syrian cities. According to the UN, as of May last year there were 2,000 Syrians in the ranks of the Russian group Wagner. This organisation has also sent Russian snipers, planes and fighter pilots.

These paramilitaries are sent by different countries to defend and fight for their own interests. For this reason, the different mercenary groups are at odds with each other. Russia, for example, supports the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Khalifa Haftar. On the other hand, Turkey and Qatar support the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj. The Muslim Brotherhood, which is close to Ankara, is also gaining influence in the war that began almost a decade ago.

Sudan, which shares a border with Libya, looks to its northern neighbour with concern that instability could spill over into its territory. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok's main objectives are to establish peace and security in his government. Hamdok took office after a coup against Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur. 

For this reason, Hamdok believes it is imperative that the situation in Libya does not further worsen the situation in his country. "Sudan is facing severe conditions that threaten its cohesion and unity, where hate speech and the spirit of tribal discrimination are spreading," said the Sudanese prime minister. The issue of mercenaries in Libya and their possible withdrawal from the country creates "an atmosphere that threatens chaos and leads the country to a state of lack of security", he added.

Sudan is also of great geostrategic importance. International powers such as Russia and Turkey have shown their interest in the African country. Moscow had considered establishing a military base on the Red Sea coast, although Khartoum finally cancelled the plan. Ankara, for its part, has sought to establish ties with Sudan through investments and agreements to gain influence in the country.