With its desert borders and coastline stretching thousands of kilometres, Libya has always failed to impose proper controls.

As a result, drugs, arms and humans have been trafficked with little impunity across the borders, creating a headache for the country and its neighbours.

Malta has not been spared the impact of inefficient border controls with immigration being the source of major concern.

But as Libya strives to achieve normality three years after the Gaddafi regime was deposed, two Maltese army officers are giving it their best shot to help the country set up a functional coastguard.

Colonel Emmanuel Mallia and Captain David Aquilina have been stationed in Libya since last year as part of the EU border assistance mission. The mission aims to advise, mentor and train Libyan border guards.

While on a break in Malta, Col Mallia said he was involved in drafting two papers proposing an overhaul of the Libyan search and rescue system and a reform of the coastguard structures.

Col Mallia, who heads the EU coastguard training unit, said the proposals he drew up after monitoring the situation on the ground were now being considered by Libyan politicians.

“The single biggest issue is that it is not clear who does what. There are two entities that perform coastguard work and this has created overlap and inefficiencies,” he said.

The creation of a rescue coordination centre based on best international practice is also a priority.

But the EU mission’s mandate does not focus only on Libya’s search and rescue capability. It also includes training to enable Libyan border guards to handle criminal activity.

Col Mallia said that Libyan navy personnel were also trained in ship boarding and clamping down on seaborne criminal activity such as drug smuggling.

“Apart from basic training in Libya, next month a group of 13 Libyan officers will be coming for advanced training at the Armed Forces of Malta’s training centre,” Col Mallia said.

Capt. Aquilina noted that almost three-quarters of the Libyan coastguard trainees were recruited in the past three years, which necessitated a basic level of training across the board.

“Despite the instability that exists we try to ensure our activities continue running,” Capt. Aquilina said.

Their work, hidden from the public eye, offers a beacon of hope in a sea of instability.