Signal: Libya and Italy Increase Efforts to Combat Migrant Smuggling

Impacts and Consequences

If the planned center truly becomes operational and efficient, which cannot be estimated with confidence currently considering unknowns,

  • Increased likelihood to mitigate spillover from the Libyan conflict

Facts and analysis

Related

On 9 December 2017, Libya’s Government of National Accord and Italy agreed to launch an operations center for combatting the migrant smuggling networks that facilitate the migrant flow across the Mediterranean. According to GNA Prime Minister Serraj, the operations center will include “representatives from the coastguard, the illegal migration department, the Libyan attorney general and the intelligence services, along with their Italian counterparts.”

With no details provided on how this center will operate, as well as seeing the GNA’s limited influence over militias, the effectiveness of this joint operations center and its impact on Libya’s spillover remains to be seen. Over the coming months, the center’s activities and any measurable effects will need to be monitored.

Impact on Issues

Critical uncertainty: capability to truly operationalise with efficiency the center on the shorter term

 Mitigating spillover from the Libyan conflict

Libya and Italy to set up operations room to tackle migrant smuggling

TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s U.N.-backed government agreed with Italy on Saturday to establish a joint operations room for tackling migrant smugglers and traffickers as part of efforts to curb migrant flows toward Europe, according to a statement.

Published by Jon Mitchell (Ma)

He is an independent researcher and writer pursuing his MA in Public Policy – International Affairs from Liberty University, U.S.. He has contributed to a political-economic analysis report for a non-profit international organization, compiled an unofficial analysis report on Boko Haram for a U.S. Congressional Committee, and writes articles for Foreign Policy Journal. While interning with the Hudson Institute, he researched critical regional security issues and analyzed complex international challenges in their Center for Political-Military Analysis.

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