Almahdi Hindi
For decades, southern Libya has been portrayed in official discourse as nothing more than a vast “geographical space.” Yet the bitter truth unfolding day after day is that this space has become the greatest threat to the stability of the Libyan state as a whole. The crisis of weak border control in the south is not merely a “technical failure” of surveillance towers; it is a living manifestation of the failure of the central state and the natural outcome of years of strategic neglect.
Harsh Geography… and Harsher Politics
When we speak of borders stretching thousands of kilometers with Chad, Niger, and Sudan, we are not referring to lines on a map, but to open corridors in the heart of the Sahara. Along these routes, organized crime networks move with a flexibility far greater than that of fragmented security agencies. The rugged terrain of areas such as the Tibesti Mountains or the valleys of Murzuq and Ghat is not the only obstacle; the real issue is the absence of the state, which has turned these regions into “safe passages” for everything illegal—from human trafficking to arms smuggling.
Division: When Borders Become
Casualties of a “Game of Chairs”
We cannot sugarcoat reality. Institutional division between east and west has turned the security of the south into a bargaining chip rather than a national duty. The multiplicity of loyalties within military bodies operating in the south has rendered genuine security coordination almost impossible. While rival authorities fight over legitimacy in Tripoli and Benghazi, the southern borders have been left as easy prey for cross-border armed groups and, at times, mercenaries who thrive in chaos.
The South Is Not Just a “Gateway”
It Is People Who Suffer
The grave mistake successive governments have made is viewing the south solely as a military zone. The truth is that the “son of the south,” who sees his city deprived of the most basic necessities—fuel, electricity, and cash liquidity—may sometimes feel compelled to turn a blind eye to smuggling activities, or even to engage in them, simply to secure a livelihood. The continued economic marginalization of Fezzan is the largest breach through which security threats flow. Borders cannot be secured by a hungry soldier or by a citizen who feels abandoned by the state.
European Pressure and the Missing Role
It is almost ironic to see the European Union focus all its efforts and support on “boats of death” in the Mediterranean, while ignoring the “trucks of death” crossing our southern borders. The international approach that seeks to turn Libya into a “traffic police officer” guarding European shores—without providing real support to secure land borders or to develop source countries—is a lopsided approach that lacks both fairness and justice.
Beyond the Gunfire: The Solution
Starts from Within
The solution in the south will not come through temporary military campaigns that end when their budgets run out. What is needed is:
• A unified political will: One that places the security of the south above political rivalries and unifies operations rooms under professional leadership.
• Genuine development: There is no security without development. The citizen in the south must feel the presence of the state through services and projects, not only through checkpoints.
• Firm diplomacy: With neighboring countries and the European Union, to ensure a fair sharing of security burdens and humanitarian responsibility.
Conclusion
The ongoing hemorrhage along the southern borders is a final warning. Either the state restores its authority and control over its entire territory through a comprehensive national vision, or we will continue to watch our sovereignty violated daily under the weight of sand and smuggling networks. The south is the heart of Libya—and if this heart continues to suffer, the body of the state will never recover.
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