A Libyan court has sentenced 12 officials to prison terms ranging from 9 to 27 years for their roles in the catastrophic collapse of dams in Derna last year, which resulted in thousands of deaths. This decision, announced by the Attorney General on Sunday, highlights the severe consequences of mismanagement and negligence in the face of natural disasters.
Sentences and Charges
The officials, who were responsible for managing the country’s dams, faced charges of negligence, premeditated murder, and waste of public money. The Court of Appeal in Derna found them guilty of failing to maintain the dams, leading to their collapse during Storm Daniel. The storm caused massive floods that devastated Derna, a coastal city with a population of 125,000, in September of the previous year. Four other officials were acquitted.
The Attorney General’s office in Tripoli stated that three of the convicted officials must return money obtained from illicit gains. Also, the names and positions of those on trial were not disclosed. A judicial source in Derna indicated that the convicted officials have the right to appeal the verdicts.
The floods caused by the dam collapse swept away buildings, destroyed entire neighborhoods, and resulted in thousands of deaths and missing persons. However, a joint report by the World Bank, United Nations, and European Union in January described the disaster as a climate and environmental catastrophe. The report highlighted the need for $1.8 billion to fund reconstruction and recovery efforts.
The report attributed the dams’ collapse to outdated hydrological information used in their design, poor maintenance, and governance issues stemming from Libya’s prolonged conflict. Libya has been divided between rival power centers in the east and west since 2014, following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Broader Implications
However, the sentencing of these officials underscores the broader issues of corruption and mismanagement in Libya’s infrastructure. The country’s ongoing political instability has exacerbated these problems, leading to significant human and economic costs.
Efforts to rebuild and recover from the disaster will require significant international support and a commitment to addressing the underlying governance issues. The verdict also sends a strong message about the importance of accountability in managing public resources and infrastructure, particularly in regions prone to natural disasters.
Source: ReutersÂ
