As neighbouring countries met in Algeria and called for the removal of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya as an essential part of the ceasefire deal signed in October 2020, tens of Syrian mercenaries protested in the streets of Tripoli about the months-long delay in receiving their salaries.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that salaries of the Syrian mercenaries in Libya have decreased to $300 per fighter instead of $600.
Turkey transported around eighteen thousand Syrians to fight for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord of former Prime Minister Fayyez Serraj in return of a salary of $2,000 a month and the promise of Turkish citizenship.
Despite repeated calls by the United Nations for foreign powers to end their excessive interference in Libya and to withdraw all mercenaries and foreign fighters from the North African country, Turkey and other foreign powers ignored such calls and insisted on maintaining the presence of these forces.
Ankara for its part, claimed that it kept some of its forces in Libya in accordance with the security and military co-operation agreement signed between the two countries in November 2019. Meanwhile, observers justify Turkey’s keenness to maintain mercenaries and troops in the north African country as a pretext to expand its presence in the country especially at the Watiya air base west of Tripoli and possibly eastwards to the Misrata naval base.
Unfortunately, the international community seems incapable of compelling Turkey and other foreign powers to withdraw their forces and the mercenaries serving their interests at expense of Libya’s national security and stability. What is worse is that the UN Security Council has never questioned Turkey’s immoral exploitation of the Syrian youth, whether those who live in the Turkish-controlled territories in Syria or those who fled the country and now live in Turkey as refugees, by sending them to Libya to fight in return of financial incentives and promise of granting them Turkish citizenship.
However, one must acknowledge that Turkey was not the first country to adopt such strategy as the business of mercenaries started long decades ago with the blessing of governments of some major powers like the United States and Russia who accepted the presence of private military companies such as Blackwater and Wagner to manage the dirty business they intend to launch in other countries without having their armed forces being accused of war crimes.
It is worth noting that the presence of foreign mercenaries in Libya predates the removal of late president Muammar Gaddafi, who relied heavily on militias from sub-Saharan Africa to suppress the rebellion against his 41-year rule in 2011. Gaddafi had also used fighters from Mali and Niger as the backbone of his elite security force. On his downfall, many of these heavily armed and well-trained fighters returned to their countries and joined rebels and jihadists there.
The continued presence of foreign mercenaries in Libya, on the other hand, could derail the entire political process, which aims to unite the state institutions and armed forces ahead of the forthcoming elections by end of this year.
Along with dirty operations against Libyan rivals, such militias perpetrated atrocities against Libyan citizens, including unlawful land mine planting in several parts of the nation and the execution of their hostages.
Despite the fact that there are over one hundred UN resolutions condemning mercenaries, the business is growing thanks to the support of several governments and arms merchants as well as the presence of large number of men who are ready to join these private military companies for financial reasons after failing to earn living in their home countries.
Aside from the harmful impact of mercenaries on Libya’s and the region’s stability, the international community should make the moral case against the use of mercenaries in civil wars. The use of mercenaries not only sustains itself by exploiting vulnerable young men who are desperate to provide for their families, but it also leads to uprooting some core concepts about war ethics.
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