Lana Editor of African Affairs: Libya is one of the most affected by spread of terrorism and armed opposition groups from neighbouring countries on its territory, not to mention mercenaries.

  Tripoli, 30 May 2022 (Lana) Equatorial Guinea's capital Malabo hosted an extraordinary summit on terrorism and unconstitutional changes in Africa on Saturday, with some 20 heads of state and government participating.

The Editor of African Affairs of the Libyan News Agency (Lana) noted that some heads of state and government who spoke at the summit once again resorted to what he termed a "policy of running forward" when they blamed the growing phenomenon of terrorism in the region on the Libyan crisis and the instability and insecurity that Libya has been experiencing since 2011.

 Commenting on the Malabo African Summit, the editor stressed that these justifications are flimsy, illogical, and can indeed be considered a "flight forward" and a failure at the level of the leaders of the states and governments concerned in the face of the real problems and complex crises experienced by their countries, whether at the security, economic, social or political levels .

The editor of African affairs explained that the phenomenon of terrorism, the spread of organized crime, cross-border crime, human and arms smuggling crimes, drugs, human trafficking and illegal immigration, in this particular region, date back several decades before the Libyan crisis, pointing out that the instability experienced by Libya may have exacerbated these crimes, but it is by no means a major factor for them, especially if we consider that the worsening security crisis in the region, primarily Libya, is due to in large part, to the fact that the African countries are lax in carrying out their duties and their inability to control their border areas with Libya, which have become a hotbed for armed groups, criminal gangs, and international smuggling networks for migrants and wealth.

The editor stressed that Libya is one of the countries most affected by the spread of terrorism and the spread of armed opposition groups from neighboring countries on its territory, not to mention mercenaries, pointing out in this regard that Libya does not talk about hundreds of thousands of citizens of neighboring countries including Chad and Niger, crossing into Libyan borders illegally, for several years, and reside today and work in many Libyan cities, in the south, east and north, and transfer their money to their families. The editor called on African leaders to move away from exporting their problems abroad and, to look at how to find real solutions to the chronic problems of their people.

In this regard, the Editor of African Affairs explained that African leaders should develop serious policies for development, which could only be achieved by declaring war on corruption, achieving social justice, stopping policies of marginalization of remote areas and opponents, spreading a culture of peaceful transfer of power, promoting the independence of judicial institutions and ensuring freedom of expression and opinion.

The editor pointed out to weakness of government institutions in some countries, including Libya, which has made armed groups impose themselves in addition to marginalizing remote areas, politically, economically and socially, which has undoubtedly led to a growing sense of mistrust and frustration, creating fertile areas for extremism and radicalization and recruiting fighters among young people seeking to get out of the maze of loss.

The Editor of African Affairs concluded by calling on African officials to put an end to policies of plunder of the African continent's resources, adopt policies appropriate to the African reality and manufacture African raw materials to find millions of jobs for African youth, torn between dying in the desert or at sea or falling into the clutches of terrorist and extremist organizations.

=Lana=