UN Authority Figures

UN General Assembly First Committee on
Disarmament and International Security Chair: Libya

Photo source: Townhall.com
Libya has become a major transit hub for terrorists, an African Union leader warned in June on the sidelines of a regional security meeting in neighboring Algeria. "I have many reports which say Libya has become a major transit hub for the main terrorist groups travelling from one country to another," said Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira, the AU's special representative in charge of counter-terrorism.(Source: Libya a key terrorism transit hub, warns African Union, June 25, 2013, Fox News )

Mission of the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security of the General Assembly: "The Disarmament and International Security Committee deals with disarmament and related international security questions." (General Assembly - Disarmament and International Security web-site, "First Committee")

Term of office: 2013-2014

Libya's Record on Disarmament and International Security:
"In Libya, the security vacuum in the aftermath of the 2011 revolution provided more opportunities for terrorists to operate. This vacuum, combined with the weakness of Libya's nascent security institutions, allowed violent extremists to act, as we saw too clearly on September 11 in Benghazi, when J. Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya, and three staff members, died during attacks on U.S. facilities...Al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has also taken advantage of the instability in the region, particularly in Libya...The list of incidents below highlights some of the most significant terrorist attacks of the year...
• On February 6, gunmen allegedly killed five refugees in a Tripoli camp.
• On May 22, assailants launched a rocket-propelled grenade at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)'s building in Benghazi...The ICRC evacuated Benghazi in mid-July.
• On June 6, violent extremists attacked the U.S. facilities in Benghazi with an improvised explosive device (IED).
• On June 11, a convoy carrying the British Ambassador to Libya was attacked in Benghazi.
• In August, there was a series of attacks against security personnel and facilities, including the bombing of the Benghazi military intelligence offices on August 1, a car bombing near the Tripoli military police offices on August 4, and the explosion of three car bombs near the Interior Ministry and other security buildings in Tripoli on August 19, killing at least two.
• On August 10, Army General Hadiya al-Feitouri was assassinated in Benghazi.
• On August 20, a car belonging to an Egyptian diplomat was blown up near his home in Benghazi.
• On September 11, terrorists attacked the U.S. facilities in Benghazi, which resulted in the death of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three staff members.
• On November 21, Benghazi security chief Faraj al-Drissi was assassinated.
• On December 16 and 20, eight people were killed when violent extremists attacked Benghazi police stations.
• On December 31, attackers threw an IED at a Coptic church in the city of Dafniya. The explosion resulted in the death of two Egyptian men and wounded two others. (Country Reports on Terrorism, May 30, 2013, U.S. State Department)

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