The US Department of State's Bureau of Counter Terrorism and Countering Violent Extremism has released its Libya Country Report for 2016. It concludes that although the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA)-aligned forces demonstrated that it could be a capable partner with the United States in the fight against ISIS, Libya lacks a comprehensive counterterrorism law and has not adopted a comprehensive strategy for countering violent extremism.
The GNA, despite internal conflict, proved capable of confronting the terrorist threat in Sirte, requested assistance from the United States, and joined the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS; however, neither the internationally recognized Tripoli-based GNA nor the legislative House of Representatives in Tobruk produced a strategy to counter the terrorist threat. The Libyan government did not pass any new legislation to confront the growing threat of terrorism throughout the country.Due mainly to the internal political conflict and the role of numerous militias, Libyan law enforcement personnel lacked the capacity to detect, deter, respond to, or investigate terrorist incidents. There were no reported terrorism-related prosecutions in 2016.Libya does not currently have a Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) law and lacks the ability to freeze the assets of UN-designated individuals, per its obligations under the UN Security Council ISIS and al-Qa’ida sanctions regime, but has drafted a comprehensive Anti MOney Laudering (AML)/CFT law and expects to enact the law in 2017.Libya has not adopted a comprehensive strategy for countering violent extremism. Continuing online threats, kidnappings, and assassinations of activists who speak out against violent extremists contributes to a culture of intimidation and self-censorship.
Click here to read the full report.