Libya: Trafficking in human beings in the interest of Russia? – The world

From the overthrow of the ASAD’s regime in Syria Russia, the question is whether the Russian army will be able to retain its maritime base in the Mediterranean port of Tartus, as well as the Air Force Base of Hmejim. Therefore, Libya is becoming increasingly important for Russia in the Arab region of the Middle East and North Africa.

Safety experts have increased air traffic from Syria to Libya, since December 2024. When ASAD left Syria.

« Immediately after Asado, numerous flights and freight ships transferred Russian material from the bases in Libya, » in conversation for DW Tarek Megeris, researcher at the European External Relations Council and the author just published extensive study on the Russian presence in Libya.

« It was obvious that Libya in the eyes of Moscow is a safe place in the Mediterranean region. » Only official channels are not represented there, but also the mercenary militia like the former paramilitary Wagner’s group, which works today under the name « African Corps ».

According to the recent New York Truata Brain’s report, the Soufan Center, Russian ships have previously agreed to the eastern Libya maritime base of Tobruk. This database is under the control of the Libyan Commander that manages large parts of the divided country: Halife Haftara.

Interests Moscow in Libya

In Libya, which is destroyed by a long-lasting civil war, Moscow has several goals, says Megerisi.

Primarily, Russia strives for military presence on the Mediterranean. So far, the presence was mostly concentrated in Syria. In addition, it is interested in commercializing there are natural resources, especially energy resources. At the same time, under pressure of Western sanctions, it tries to find customers for their own goods. Libya also serves as an important transit point for exporting Russian weapons.

The Soufan Center has a similar opinion .: An example, artillery deliveries go with the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), commanding Haftar, or exported « anti-capital forces in neighboring countries. »

However, the influence on migration flows through Libya to Europe is in Russian interest – Moscow, as well as known from the Eastern European Union, is used as a means of pressure on the EU.

Dad and son Haftar

In Libyan conflict, Russia has been supported by a renowned commander of Haftar, a powerful man of East Libya for years.

« He remains the most important partner of Moscow, » says Ulf Lesing, the manager of the Sahel Foundation of the Konrad Adenauer regional Program in Mali. « The truth is that the Russians also have diplomatic relations with the western part of the country and with the main city of Tripoli. But the focus is clearly on Haftar. »

« It carries a certain risk, given that Haftar is 81 years old, and its authority could be fragile under the political pressure of the United States, » says Lesing for DW.

In that light, the role of one of Haftar’s sons – Saddam Haftar, also General – becomes increasingly important. It was against him against him. Issued an arrest warrant for suspicion of arms smuggling, and in recent years he established himself as the main Russian contact in Libya, says Megeris in his studio.

Haftar Russia is made available to the network of Libyan military bases, « Russia has taken all this to (…) to help Heftor that Libya establish himself as a focus of arms, drugs, fuels – and people, » said further Megeris.

The system worked on the routine form. For years, there were flights from Syria to East Libya, says Lesing for DW, which most often performed private Syrian airline.

« Through her, Migrants from Asia, for example, arrived in East Libya, for example, they were embarking on the ships that then moved towards Italy. »

With the help of its private militia (Brigade Tarik Bin Zijad), Saddam Haftar established a complex infrastructure for professional human smuggling, he writes an expert Megeris in his studio. This infrastructure can use transnational networks of smugglers and traffickers – of course, with a certain fee.

« Victims are people who take great risks and suffer numerous difficulties in hopes that later lead a better life in Europe. Sometimes migrants must pay up to $ 9,000, » says Megerisi.

Trafficking in human accident

The smuggling of people followed by the steady pattern, says Megerisi: Upon arrival in Libya, migrant their documents to another militia, which then holds them detained until they pay « fees ». Before the ships go to Europe, migrants retain days or weeks – often in inhuman conditions.

« Then Saddam gets money again for his coast guard to miss ships: $ 100 per migrant for ‘smaller ships’ (with about 300,000 dollars) for larger ships », writes megeris. Some refugees turn to Western Libya, « This shows how armed Libyan groups exceed political differences for profit. »

The roads of migrants towards Libya are different, says Megeris. The Africans usually come to the mainland, while people from Asia arrive planes. After that, most of them pass through different points of entry into East Libya, where they surrender them to Haftar’s network.

Migration as a weapon

Here are the fore of Russian interests in relation to Europe. « Russia uses migration as a weapon, » Megerisa rates. This has already been shown during the war in Syria, when Russian planes were transporting Migrants from Damascus to Minsk, from where they were trying to arrive in Western Europe. This increased pressure on the external boundaries of the EU. It’s not safe if these flights are still taking place:

« After Athad’s hardening in power, the focus of migration was moved to Sahel, ie to the sub-saharious zone. There, Russian militia contributes to the fact that even more people are going to work with Saddam Haftar. » And in that.

Europe can blend the smuggling of people by migrants to offer safe routes and efficiently control the received persons, consider megeris. « Thus, people would confiscate profit, and Europe would take control into their hands. »