1st November, 2011
The UN Security Council has urged Libya to prevent the spread of arms throughout the region, after months of violent conflict that culminated in the killing of former Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
The 15-member Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Monday, which emphasised that the proliferation of Man-portable surface-to-air missiles (MANPADS) and others in the region could fuel terrorist activities.
The Council said the proliferation of weapons could fuel unrest and be used by groups such as al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
It called on the Libyan authorities to continue their close coordination with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, with the aim of destroying their stockpiles of chemical weapons.
The resolution also urged countries in the region to consider appropriate measures to prevent the proliferation of all arms and related material of all types.
Prof. Joy Ogwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN and Security Council President for the month of October, later told reporters that mopping up weapons in Libya would accelerate the process of “peace building and peacemaking” in the region.
“The resolution 2017 is about mopping up weapons in post conflict Libya, the danger and the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons in Libya after the conflict has been recognised by the Council and this resolution is to pursue this mopping up strategy, especially in MANPADS, the small arms and light weapons.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NATO ended its Libya mission on October 31, after seven months of air campaign to protect civilians under a UN Security Council resolution.
NATO formally decided to halt the mission after the UN cancelled the mandate last week, though Libya’s transitional leaders had urged NATO to continue because of security concerns.
Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) on Sunday declared the full liberation of the country on October 23, more than eight months after the popular uprising began, and days after the death of Gaddafi in his hometown of Sirte.
The pro-democracy uprising in Libya was part of a wider popular movement across North Africa and the Middle East this year that has also led to the downfall of long-term regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.