Sanctions alone won’t shut down Libya’s illicit economies2023-07-20Twelve years on from Libya’s revolution, the country remains fragile. Severe human rights violations are also linked to illicit markets, particularly human smuggling. Penalties are generally aimed at those linked to human smuggling, though some have targeted contraband fuel or drug traffickers. While these are valid criticisms, they overlook how sanctions have forced changes in the nature of Libya’s illicit markets. This involves closely assessing trends around Libya’s illicit economies, with designations designed to dovetail with the changing dynamics.
