International
-Sathish Raman
Abdel-Rahman
Milad,
a
notorious
human
trafficker
in
Libya,
was
killed
on
Sunday
in
Tripoli,
according
to
Libyan
officials.
His
death
has
heightened
tensions
in
the
western
region
of
the
country.
Milad,
who
led
a
coast
guard
unit
in
Zawiya
and
was
sanctioned
by
the
United
Nations
Security
Council,
was
shot
by
unidentified
attackers.
The
exact
circumstances
of
his
death
remain
unclear,
and
no
group
has
claimed
responsibility.
image
Libyan
media
reported
that
Milad
was
shot
while
inside
his
vehicle
in
the
Sayyad
area
of
western
Tripoli.
Footage
shared
online
showed
his
white
Toyota
Land
Cruiser
riddled
with
bullet
holes.
Both
officials
who
confirmed
his
death
spoke
anonymously
due
to
safety
concerns.
The
government
led
by
Prime
Minister
Abdul
Hamid
Dbeibah
has
not
commented
on
the
incident.
Libya’s
Ongoing
Turmoil
Since
the
2011
NATO-backed
uprising
that
ousted
and
killed
long-time
dictator
Moammar
Gadhafi,
Libya
has
been
mired
in
corruption
and
chaos.
The
country
is
now
divided
between
two
administrations,
each
supported
by
different
armed
groups
and
foreign
governments.
Amid
this
turmoil,
Libya
has
become
a
key
route
for
migrants
from
Africa
and
the
Middle
East
attempting
to
reach
Europe
via
the
Mediterranean
Sea.
In
June
2018,
the
U.N.
Security
Council
imposed
sanctions
on
Milad
and
five
other
leaders
of
criminal
networks
involved
in
trafficking
migrants
from
Libya.
At
that
time,
Milad
was
identified
as
the
head
of
a
Zawiya
coast
guard
unit
linked
to
violence
against
migrants
and
rival
human
smugglers.
U.N.
experts
monitoring
sanctions
accused
Milad
and
other
coast
guard
members
of
using
firearms
to
sink
migrant
boats.
Calls
for
Justice
Moammar
Dhawi,
a
militia
leader
in
western
Libya,
expressed
sorrow
over
Milad’s
death.
In
a
Facebook
statement,
he
urged
an
investigation
to
hold
those
responsible
accountable.
“We
must
bring
the
perpetrators
to
justice,” Dhawi
stated.
Milad
had
consistently
denied
any
involvement
in
human
smuggling
activities,
claiming
that
traffickers
wore
uniforms
similar
to
those
of
his
men.
He
was
imprisoned
for
about
six
months
between
October
2020
and
April
2021
on
charges
related
to
human
trafficking
and
fuel
smuggling.
The
oil-rich
nation
continues
to
grapple
with
instability
as
various
factions
vie
for
control.
The
killing
of
Milad
underscores
the
ongoing
violence
and
lawlessness
that
plague
Libya.
The
international
community
remains
concerned
about
the
situation
in
Libya,
particularly
regarding
human
trafficking
and
migrant
rights
abuses.
Efforts
to
stabilise
the
country
have
so
far
been
unsuccessful,
leaving
many
vulnerable
to
exploitation.
The
recent
events
highlight
the
urgent
need
for
effective
governance
and
rule
of
law
in
Libya
to
address
these
persistent
issues.
