The transformation of Libyans into mercenaries (What is the story behind the 95 citizens detained in South Africa?)
In a recent report by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the hidden details behind the arrest of 95 Libyan citizens in South Africa have been uncovered. These individuals were deceived into traveling there under false promises, believing they were going to participate in joint military training with the South African army. However, the South African authorities were unaware of this arrangement. This incident highlights the darker side of the ongoing conflicts in Libya, where the country has become a focal point for mercenary recruitment and a hub for human and arms trafficking.
The Incident: A New Deception in the Market of False Promises
According to BBC sources, "It seems they were victims of a scam," said one source, suggesting that the forces controlled by Khalifa Haftar, which dominate eastern Libya, had fallen prey to a "fraud." The BBC explained that "these Libyans belong to the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigade under the command of Saddam Haftar," and that they were sent to South Africa due to a proposal made to the authorities in eastern Libya to renew and diversify training locations. The proposal suggested an opportunity for training with the regular army forces in South Africa.
A BBC source added that an official presented an offer from a company specializing in military and security training in South Africa, promising to organize special training for selected Libyans there. The Libyans traveled under this pretense, "but it seems that the authorities in South Africa were not informed, and what happened, happened." A group of adventurous conmen deceived Khalifa Haftar and his army, leading them to send 95 of our citizens to South Africa. When the scam was exposed, Haftar disowned them, denying any responsibility for their presence there, leaving them to face their fate. South Africa eventually released them after discovering the naivety and the foolishness of those who had sent them.
Khalifa Haftar and the Connection to Mercenary Trade
Khalifa Haftar, the military leader in eastern Libya, is one of the most controversial figures in the country. With Libya's increasing fragmentation since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Haftar emerged as a military leader controlling eastern Libya and a significant portion of the south. He wields strong influence over many armed militias.
In recent years, Haftar has been linked to the recruitment of mercenaries to fight for his forces in battles in Benghazi, Derna, Murzuq, and most recently, Tripoli. The peak of Haftar’s dealings with mercenaries was his collaboration with the notorious Russian Wagner Group, which operates in several global hotspots, including Libya, Syria, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Sudan, and others.
Initially, foreign nationals entered Libya to work as mercenaries for Haftar and his rivals. Even Haftar's opponents in Tripoli recruited mercenaries from Arab and African countries to fight for them. However, in recent years, a new phenomenon has emerged: the use of Libyans as mercenaries in various external conflicts.
During the war in Ukraine, reports surfaced confirming the participation of Libyans fighting alongside Russian forces. Similarly, media reports indicated the involvement of Libyans in the ongoing conflict in Sudan within the ranks of Hemeti's forces. Other reports have also pointed to the presence of Libyans in several locations where Wagner Group operates. Wagner, which will later be replaced by what is known in Russia as the African Corps, sees Libya as a strategically important hub, with Libyan mercenaries potentially forming one of its key components.
Libyan Involvement in International Conflicts
The participation of Libyans in conflicts beyond their borders is part of Haftar’s and his supporters' broader strategy to gain geopolitical influence. By sending fighters to Ukraine to join Russian forces, Haftar aimed to strengthen his ties with Moscow, which supports him both politically and militarily against military and paramilitary groups opposing him that officially or nominally back the Government of National Unity in Tripoli.
In Sudan, the relationship between Haftar and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Hemeti has been a subject of international debate. During Sudan's internal turmoil, Haftar sought to exploit the situation to his advantage by providing military and logistical support to Hemeti's forces, in line with the interests of his key regional ally, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which stands firmly behind Hemeti in his attempt to overthrow the Sudanese government.
Haftar’s relationship with the UAE and its ongoing support for him is well-known and needs no further explanation. However, more recently, Haftar’s support for UAE projects in Africa has become increasingly evident. From Sudan to Chad, Haftar’s forces are currently engaged in fierce battles with Chadian opposition forces, aiming to expel them from gold mines in the border areas between the two countries. Intelligence reports indicate that the motivation is not to reclaim these mines, as they are located within Chadian territory, but rather to suppress the Chadian opposition and strengthen the Chadian army's control over these areas to exploit the mines through joint projects between the UAE and Chad, as agreed upon during Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby's recent visit to the UAE and his meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed.
The Impact of Human and Mercenary Trafficking in Libya
The involvement of Libyans in international wars and their recruitment as mercenaries reflects the dire reality that Libya faces today. The chaos in the country, the absence of central governance, and the deteriorating economy have made Libya a fertile ground for human trafficking networks and arms trade. Recently, this has become a double-edged sword, where Libyans have become both the traffickers and the trafficked.
The case of the 95 Libyans in South Africa demonstrates how deception and manipulation have become tools to lure poor and desperate Libyan youth, turning them into instruments in wars that have no direct connection to them.
Libya's Future in Jeopardy
Libya's future appears bleak, even extremely grim, under the current circumstances. With ongoing internal conflicts and foreign intervention, the country seems unable to escape its dark tunnel or break free from the cycle of violence and corruption. The story of the 95 Libyans arrested in South Africa will remain a symbol of the broader tragedy that the Libyan people endure today. It serves as a reminder that sustainable solutions to Libya’s crisis will only come through deep and comprehensive reforms that restore hope to Libyan youth and put an end to the exploitation that many suffer.
These 95 young men could be you, me, your friend, your neighbor, or your relative. If their tragedy doesn’t awaken a sense of insecurity within you, knowing that you or someone close to you could be next, then you have lost your sense of direction. Regardless of the side you support in the current conflict or the perspective from which you view this and other events, the tragedy of these young dreamers being turned into hired guns in the warlords’ marketplace remains a disgrace on the forehead of Libya and its people.