Fuel smuggling is a problem affecting the Libyan economy, according to former Libyan deputy foreign minister Said Ali Laswad. The smuggling of fuel from Libya to Malta and other countries goes back to 2013 and 2014, he said.

Last week, United Nations experts gave a detailed account of this illegal activity in a report submitted to the Security Council.

Libyan media reported that in June 2014, Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni had called on the Maltese government to take action against those involved in smuggling fuel from Libya to Malta.

It was also reported that, on June 17, 2014, the Maltese ambassador was told that smuggling was on the increase and had become “a threat to the Libyan State”, with an impact on both national security and ties between the two countries.

In a wide-ranging interview about the situation back home, Dr Laswad, who was the editor of the weekly Tripoli Post for 13 years, showed his disappointment at the ‘betrayal’ of the Libyan people by the international community.

“Instead of standing by the elected government, the inter­national partners exerted pressure on legitimate political bodies to recognise the militias in Tripoli and share power with them,” he said.

On the Islamic State’s presence in Libya, he said the terrorist organisation was exploiting a political vacuum. The inter­national community should lift sanctions and strengthen the Libyan army to fight them.

It should be the Libyan military that defeats IS, Dr Laswad said.