Category: Policy Recommendations

Migration is not a new phenomenon for Libya; situated at the gateway between two continents, and bordered by six other nations, Libya has long been a transit point into Europe for African migrants. Migration has also long conditioned relations between Libya and its European neighbours; for example, Muammar Gaddafi orchestrated a series of agreements with the EU, promising to curb migration across the Mediterranean in exchange for handsome compensation. These agreements culminated in the 2008 ‘Friendship Treaty’ with Italy, earning Gaddafi USD 5 billion over 25 years. The political and…

Many policymakers within Europe have been quick to analyse the political and security implications of migration for the EU itself; but less have analysed the dynamics and implications of migration for Libya. As a nation already ravaged by a brutal civil war and in the thralls of insurgencies by both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS), how does migration play out on this scene? And how can the international community mitigate the political and security fallout for Libya, while curbing the number of illegal migrants risking their lives in the…

The rapid emergence and relative consolidation of the Islamic State (IS) branch in Libya has left many wondering how the group attains the funds to sustain operations and control territory. Official estimates by the United Nations (UN) and United States (US) estimated that there are roughly between 2,000 and 6,000 IS fighters currently in Libya. Although there have been strong initiatives to investigate how IS finance themselves in Iraq and Syria, little has been done to investigate the source of IS funds in Libya. IS are believed to be the world’s richest terrorist organisation ever, with an…

The capture of Mukalla from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was an unexpected victory for the embattled Yemeni government, against a resilient and adaptable franchise of al-Qaeda. This paper notes four key aspects of the operation to re-take Mukalla and highlights their relevance for countering terrorism in the embattled nation of Libya. Click Here to Open/Download