Libyan Coast Guard

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Libyan Coast Guard
Libyan Coast Guard Racing Stripe.svg
Racing Stripe of the Libyan Coast Guard
Active1970–present
Country Libya
Branch Libyan Navy
TypeCoast guard
Size1,000 (As of 2015).[1]
Garrison/HQTripoli
Commanders
Current
commander		Commodore
SpokesmanBrig.
Insignia
Seal of Libyan Coast GuardLibyan coast guard seal.svg
Naval ensignNaval ensign of Libya.svg
Flag of the Libyan NavyFlag of the Libyan Navy.svg
Libyan Coast Guard Racing StripeLibyan Coast Guard Racing Stripe.svg

The Libyan Coast Guard, part of the Libyan Navy, is responsible for the onshore protection of public installations near the coast and the patrol of coastal waters for curbing smuggling and traffickers and for enforcing customs laws. As of 2015, the Libyan Coast Guard has over 1,000 personnel.[1]

History[]

The foundation of the Libyan Coast Guard dates back to 1970 when the previously separate customs and harbor police were joined in a single command within the Libyan Navy and under the Ministry of Defense.[1]

In 2006–2008 the Coast Guard fleet was renewed and equipped with 'stealth' 30-knot (56 km/h; 35 mph) cruising speed PV30-LS patrol boats from the Croatian shipyard Adria-Mar.[2][1]

In 2017 the coast guard were criticised for failing to respond to ten vessels in distress.[3]

During the ongoing European migrant crisis, Libyan Coast Guard intercepts refugee and migrant boats travelling across the Mediterranean Sea, per a funding agreement reached with Frontex, the European border agency. The interceptions have been criticised as "worsening the crisis" and in November 2021 were reported to result in 27,500 people being returned to detention centres.[4][5]

In May 2021 Salvatore Quinci, the mayor Mazaro del Vallo reported the second recent incident where fishermen were shot at by the coast guard, the later incident non fatality injuring one man.[6]

In July 2021 the Libyan Coast Guard was criticised for chasing and then shooting at a migrant boat.[7]

Later in July 2021, a former senior Libyan police officer accused the coast guard of robbing people, and of being people smugglers.[8]

In November 2021, the coast guard threatened the German humanitarian vessel Sea Watch 4.[9]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Coast Guard". www.globalsecurity.org.
  2. ^ "World navies today - Navy of Libya". www.navypedia.org.
  3. ^ "'It's a day off': wiretaps show Mediterranean migrants were left to die". the Guardian. 2021-04-16. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  4. ^ "How migrants and asylum seekers in Libya lost faith in foreign aid". The New Humanitarian. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  5. ^ "Pope: Don't send migrants back to Libya and 'inhumane' camps". AP NEWS. 2021-10-24. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  6. ^ Rome, AFP in (2021-05-06). "Italian fisher wounded after Libyan coastguard reportedly shot at boat". the Guardian. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  7. ^ "Caught on camera: Libyan coastguard shoots at migrant boat". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  8. ^ "[On board with SOS Méditerranée] Libyan police lieutenant: 'Coast guard are smugglers'". EUobserver. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  9. ^ "NGO: Libyan Coast Guard threatens German relief ship". 218 News. 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2021-11-21.

External links[]

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