Libya’s Anti-Corruption Efforts Fall Short, Experts Say

TRIPOLI - Libya has made some progress in combating corruption, but its efforts are hindered by a lack of cooperation between government agencies and inadequate training and resources, according to a recent report.

Establishing Frameworks, but Limited Effectiveness

The report, released by international experts, praised Libya for establishing a specialized independent commission to prevent and combat corruption, as well as several government agencies responsible for various aspects of the fight against corruption. However, it noted that these efforts are hampered by a lack of coordination and inadequate training and resources.

“The independence of those agencies is ensured by law, but in practice, their effectiveness is hindered by a lack of cooperation and limited resources.”

Lack of Penalties for Non-Reporting

The experts also expressed concern about the lack of penalties for individuals who fail to report corruption offenses. While several laws require public officials and others to report such offenses, there are no penalties for those who do not comply.

Insufficient Mechanisms for Prosecution

In addition, the report noted that Libya has not established a specialized court and prosecutor’s office to fight corruption, despite considering doing so.

Positive Developments

Despite these challenges, the report highlighted some positive developments in Libya’s anti-corruption efforts. For example:

• The country’s criminalization of the acceptance by public officials of gifts for acting in their official capacity.
• The exploitation of one’s position or influence to intimidate or influence others.

Recommendations for Improvement

The experts recommended several steps to improve Libya’s anti-corruption efforts, including:

• Adapting its information system to collect more detailed statistics on criminalization and law enforcement.
• Establishing active bribery as an offense.
• Considering establishing penalties for individuals who fail to report corruption offenses.

Protecting Witnesses and Victims

The report also called for stronger measures to protect witnesses and victims of corruption, as well as the establishment of explicit procedures for disqualifying persons convicted of corruption offenses from holding office in state-owned enterprises.

Conclusion

Overall, while Libya has made some progress in combating corruption, more needs to be done to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts and ensure that those responsible for corruption are held accountable.