Catastrophe de Derna : The ghost of Gaddafi in Libya

Since the collapse of two dams which caused more than 3000 dead and 10000 missing in Libya, Few of these people have mentioned the name of Gaddafi and yet, everyone knows that in his time, the disaster would not have been of this magnitude.

Speaking about the deadly floods that recently took place in Libya, the Secretary General of the United Nations (HIM) said this is a “sad snapshot of a world swept away by the torrent of inequalities and injustices”. At the same time as he was giving his speech this 20 September 2023 in New York at the organization’s headquarters, the inhabitants of Derna, city ​​disfigured by a disaster of unprecedented magnitude, expressed their anger against the authorities of their country whom they accused of being responsible for the heavy toll.

After contradictory figures, some more alarmist than others, the number of deaths is currently estimated at more than 3300 while more than 10.000 people missing. The 10 September, after having swept Europe and particularly Greece, Storm Daniel hit eastern Libya and caused the collapse of two dams located upstream of the town of Derna. The houses, buildings and cars were swept away by torrents of water from broken dams.

As time passes giving way to anger, residents and certain administrative officials point the finger at the negligence of the authorities and even, worse, the misappropriation of funds regularly released for the maintenance of these two dams. In fact, since former President Gaddafi was killed ten years ago, maintenance work no longer took place. And yet, cracks have appeared over the years and even water leaks have been reported, all things that led engineers to warn the authorities of an impending catastrophe.

Whether it's angry residents, authorities and external stakeholders such as the European Union and the United Nations, no one refers to the death of Gaddafi as the start of Libya's decadence. Antonio Gutierres, UN Secretary General, blamed the disaster on climate change, evading the direct cause which is nothing other than the dysfunction of the country since the death of President Gaddafi in which the supranational organization has a responsibility.

In the same line, the Libyans, torn between two governments that are paralyzing the country, recognize that it is over the last ten years that vital infrastructure has ceased to be maintained but avoid saying out loud their nostalgia for the Gaddafi period. Modesty, shame ? At any rate, They realize today what they went astray. They who had a lifestyle well above the majority of Africans, are today reduced to living on assistance and dealing with insecurity that is more worrying every day.

As for Africans south of the Sahara, few show empathy for the inhabitants of this country who, after killing their savior, attack black migrants whom they transform into slaves. More, Nevertheless, it is important to help this country recover if only in memory of the ideals of Gaddafi who wanted to make Africa a united and prosperous country.

Pierre MATCHOUDO