Long Overdue Accountability: Examining Libya’s Leaders and the Devastating Flood Tragedy in Derna | Libya Floods 2023

The devastating floods in Derna, Libya, cannot be fully comprehended by simply tallying up the number of lives lost. As journalist Johr Ali explains, these individuals were not just statistics; they were people with names, love stories, friendships, dreams, and ambitions. In an interview with The Guardian’s Today in Focus podcast, Ali emphasizes the importance of recognizing the humanity of the flood victims.

Rather than addressing the causes and consequences of the disaster, Libyan authorities prefer to divert attention away from the victims. Scientific evidence suggests that global heating significantly contributed to the heavy rainfall, making such floods 50 times more likely. However, it was the collapse of dams and the failure to evacuate that exacerbated the devastation. Survivors demand answers about why warnings were ignored and what happened to the funds allocated for dam maintenance. Frustrated by the lack of transparency, residents protested, leading officials to block the entry of foreign journalists and detain local media.

Libya’s political landscape is characterized by two rival governments, resulting in an ineffective state. Warlord Khalifa Haftar’s coalition of militias competes with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord. These ruling entities prioritize their personal gain and power, showing little regard for the 7 million Libyans who have endured a history of dictatorship, revolution, civil war, and political deadlock. In a country plagued by corruption and incompetence, even teenage Scouts are left to fulfill the duties neglected by the government, while civil society is suppressed.

Concerns are now mounting that political leaders will exploit the crisis to further enrich themselves and delay elections. Haftar is already consolidating his family’s power, with his son Saddam appointed to oversee the disaster response committee. The international community now faces the challenge of coordinating with a man accused of seizing substantial amounts of cash and silver belonging to the central bank. UN experts have documented a litany of atrocities committed by Haftar’s forces, including war crimes, according to Amnesty International.

Both Libyans at home and abroad demand an international inquiry into the disaster and the government’s response, examining the actions of authorities in power on both sides. Domestic inquiries are unlikely to provide satisfactory answers, as they are prone to scapegoating and lack cooperation with foreign investigators. For the past decade, political elites have enjoyed complete impunity, escaping accountability for their failures and crimes. The tragedy in Derna has brought their behavior into the spotlight. A thorough investigation would shed light on their actions and inaction, providing essential information for the Libyan people, potentially preventing future catastrophes, and holding Western governments accountable for their role in the crisis.

A recent publication by Chatham House analyzes political settlements in the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya, Iraq, and Lebanon. The thinktank argues that international policymakers have prioritized “stability” over accountability, resulting in political systems that benefit elites at the expense of citizens. These settlements have addressed direct violence but neglected structural forms of violence, leading to increased corruption and worsening human development scores. The authors of the paper, Dr. Renad Mansour, Tim Eaton, and Dr. Lina Khatib, emphasize the need to prioritize accountability as an integral part of political settlements. Libya’s leaders have evaded accountability for too long. The people of Derna deserve nothing less than justice for their loved ones, friends, dreamers, and hardworking individuals.