By Abdullah Alkabir, political writer and commentator
The frenzy of fake elites
Once again, in less than a month, statements by Musa Al-Koni, a member of the Presidential Council representing the south, have sparked controversy among activists and followers on social media. The previous time, he proposed an initiative to resolve the Libyan crisis, proposing a return to a system of regions and governorates, based on the principle of reducing the struggle for power and wealth by dismantling the central government and easing pressure on the capital.
This time, he spoke more daringly and explicitly, stating that Libya is an occupied country with no sovereignty over its territory. This undeclared occupation, according to his statements, is due to the Russian and Turkish forces controlling Libyan military bases. He stated that he was returning from a visit to an African country, and his plane was prevented from crossing the airspace of the Brak military base in southern Libya, on instructions from the command of the Russian forces stationed at the base.
There is, of course, nothing new in Al-Koni's statement. Russian forces have been present in Libya since 2017 at the invitation of Khalifa Haftar and with the approval of the House of Representatives, under the banner of the Wagner Group, providing military and security services. This banner was later removed and they were officially transformed into forces affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense. They subsequently expanded, doubling their numbers and upgrading their armament, and now control military bases in the east, center, and south.
Turkish forces are also present in at least two bases in western Libya, based on a security and military memorandum of understanding concluded between the former Government of National Accord and the Turkish government to assist in repelling Haftar's gangs and mercenaries from the capital in 2019.
Why the controversy, then, when these facts are clear and well-known? Not a single international report, not even a statement by a former UN official in Libya, not to mention the periodic reports of Security Council experts, fails to mention the Russian and Turkish military presence, along with special forces from other countries. However, these forces are far smaller in size and effectiveness than those of Russia and Turkey.
The main reason, in my opinion, is that these statements were made by a Libyan political figure who plays a role in the current executive authority. Therefore, there is no room to doubt their authenticity or downplay their importance. Also, because they reveal the Presidential Council’s inability, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to take action, and are content with issuing statements and declarations that will neither liberate the country nor restore sovereignty. It is, of course, strange that an official would maintain his position and not resign after knowing that he is not exercising the duties and responsibilities of the position, meaning that his presence is a mere figurehead with no contribution whatsoever. Moreover, they cannot be considered an acquittal because they were not accompanied by a resignation.
However, these were statements that revealed the enormity of our calamity. I do not mean here the occupation, as Al-Koni described it, nor his failure to resign, while he realizes that he and his two colleagues in the council are merely decorative pieces to beautify the scene, for positions have their own temptations and advantages that only the most determined men would disdain. Rather, I mean the responses I read from figures who claim in all their conversations that they are brimming with patriotism and even dying for love for the homeland, and do not care about money, prestige, and positions. These are funny claims that we will attribute to the many jokes in our country these years. These figures, swollen with patriotism, did not get angry in support of their homeland and their alleged patriotism against the foreign forces violating Libya's sovereignty, or at the very least, call for an investigation and verification of Al-Koni's claims, and then adopt a position commensurate with their claimed patriotism. Rather, they sharpened their tongues and pens and attacked him ferociously as if he had uttered blasphemy.
They found no argument to respond with other than wavy, repetitive talk about the chaos and terrorism in the south in recent years, as if the control of foreign forces over our military bases was less serious than terrorist groups, or as if those who claimed to have expelled these groups and liberated the south had the right to open the country wide to foreign forces and mortgage its sovereignty to foreign powers.
This is our reality, revealed by events, positions and statements. Our greatest disaster lies in the false elites that promote everyone who possesses the means of power, out of greed for money or position. They justify and defend his crimes and betrayal, and are seized by an incomprehensible frenzy against everyone who opposes them, defending the homeland against the agents.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of the Libya Observer
