Reply #24: ANALYSIS-Libya's war upsets the neighbours [View All]

[pinboy3niner]

Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:44am GMT


• Libya adds new sources of insecurity in desert regions

• Influx of arms could boost homegrown terrorists, rebellions

• Eventual Gaddafi removal seen positive for stability


By Mark John


NIAMEY, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Long bedevilled by coups, rebellions and other home-grown troubles, Libya's African neighbours have been landed with a new set of woes imported fresh from someone else's war.

The arrival in Niger of 32 fleeing Muammar Gaddafi loyalists -- including one of the ousted Libyan leader's sons -- in recent days is already a diplomatic headache for the government.

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More than 150,000 people have already fled Libya into the northern part of Niger, which is mostly desert. Nigeriens and other sub-Saharan Africans have for years sought work in oil-rich Libya, where average income per head is 20 times Niger's.

Among them are gangs of local Tuareg nomads who were hired to fight on Gaddafi's side and which in the past weeks have been spotted returning to their encampments in northern Niger.

While the numbers so far are small, Niamey's main worry is that a final capitulation of Gaddafi forces will drive thousands more of his Tuareg fighters back over the border to a country where they have for years led a string of rebellions.

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http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFL5E7KD3U620110914?sp=true