S. Libya Could Be New ’Daesh’ Frontier

Local Editor

A potentially critical conflict has gone largely unnoticed in southern Libya yet could open up a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa for Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Takfiri "ISIS" group], according to analysts.

The group has consolidated its hold along Libya's northern coast, and experts are concerned the terrorists may now be pushing into the remote desert region of Fezzan in the southwest of the country.

Sitting on the crossroads between Algeria, Niger and Chad, Fezzan offers lucrative sources of income from smuggling and already acts as a hideout for al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb [AQMI] and other terrorist groups.

It is one of Africa's main drug routes, traversed by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa hoping to get to Europe as well as by foreign mercenaries, mostly African, heading to join Daesh at their Sirte stronghold in northeastern Libya.

Meanwhile, penetrating south through Fezzan could ultimately help Daesh link up with its brutal Nigerian sister organization, Boko Haram, as well as providing a rear base in case of any international assault on its positions along the Mediterranean coast, analysts say.

Since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Muammar Gadhafi, Fezzan has been embroiled in conflict involving the ethnic Tubus and Tuaregs, as well as two Arab tribes, the Zuwaya and the Awlad Suleiman.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team