Russia ready to work with US for Libya solution

Russia has expressed its openness to work with the United States to broker a solution for the crisis in Libya, according to Russia’s ambassador to the country.

The ambassador added that Moscow is ready to initiate the lifting of an international arms embargo on Libya which can only be done once it has a united army.

The US and Russia have been at lodger heads since Moscow became more involved in Libyan politics seeking to grow its influence in the region. Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar has grown close to Moscow in recent years and has been invited to hold talks with Russia’s foreign and interior ministries a number of times over the last year in seeking better funding and backing for his authority in the east of the country.

As well as vying for a political solution, the migrant crisis has come to the forefront, pressing Libya to deal with its internal and external issues. According to the European Union and African Union at least 3,100 migrants stranded in Libya have been returned to their home countries in the last two weeks.

EU spends $35 million to protect migrants in North Africa 

A new task force which also includes the United Nations aims to repatriate another 15,000 migrants from Libya by February. The efforts of repatriation come after disturbing footage emerged last month of African migrants in Libya being auctioned off as slaves. Several African nations have also begun upping efforts to bring home hundreds of their citizens.

Up to 700,000 migrants are thought to be stranded in dozens of detention camps across the war-ravaged country after it became a popular launch pad for migrants attempting the tumultuous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe. Many migrants have often faced abuse at the detention centres including rape and torture.

Amnesty International this week accused the EU of being complicit in the treatment of migrants in Libya by making entry for migrants more difficult forcing them to resort to extreme measures to find a better life for themselves.