Urban Peace-Building through Community-Based Initiatives to Control SALWs in Libya

Alaa Tartir,Nicolas Florquin

doi:10.31389/jied.57

Abstract

In post-revolution Libya, the proliferation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) became pervasive due to the ongoing political and armed conflict that succeeded the fall of Qaddafi. The continuing state of insecurity and weakness of central state authorities has led local and community-based actors to develop their own peacebuilding initiatives, some of which included homegrown measures to control or reduce the proliferation of SALW. Drawing on insights collected in the cities of Az-Zāwiyah, Bayda, and Tobruk, this policy commentary discusses the mechanisms leading to the emergence of such initiatives, the methods of their implementation, and their strengths and weaknesses. Although these local initiatives did not result in building lasting and comprehensive peace at the national level, they offer a preliminary set of lessons learned that can help inform prospective peacebuilding and SALW control efforts in Libya. <strong>Arabic version:</strong> The Arabic version of this article is available and can be downloaded at <a href="https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.57.s1" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.31389/jied.57.s1</a>

Highlights

The proliferation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)1 in post-Qaddafi Libya is attributable to exogenous and endogenous factors that perpetuated the ongoing conflict and fragmentation
The intra-Libyan divisions, the dominance of non-state armed groups and their capture of key state institutions, the absence of a state that is able to claim the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force, Libya’s porous borders, the detrimental regional external interventions, and the limits and failures of global mechanisms to broker a peace deal or initiate an inclusive political transition process towards stability and democracy, are some key factors that have entrenched the status of insecurity and created a fertile ground for the proliferation of SALW especially in the urban strongholds of the rival parties
The battle over Tripoli is a case in point: armed groups of different political, ideological, and social persuasions have sought to assert their influence over resources, institutions, political decision-making in the post-revolution era

Summary

Introduction

The proliferation and trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW)1 in post-Qaddafi Libya is attributable to exogenous and endogenous factors that perpetuated the ongoing conflict and fragmentation. This Policy Commentary offers insights from local researchers who interviewed community leaders in three urban settings—Az-Zāwiyah (West Libya), and Tobruk and Bayda (East Libya)—and draws a number of policy-relevant conclusions on how local communitybased initiatives can help inform prospective peacebuilding and SALW control efforts in Libya.5

Results

Conclusion