Safeguarding oil resources in unoccupied territories during armed conflict: The Libyan problem

Abstract

On 17 March 2011, the fifteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted on a Resolution on Libya, following weeks of mass anti-government protests that triggered a ruthless crack down by President Gaddaffi’s security forces. The crackdown is of such a callous nature that the international community began to agree that Gaddaffi could be committing crimes against humanity and should be investigated by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.3 The initially peaceful civilian protests gradually developed into an armed movement that launched attacks against government targets and institutions in Libya’s towns and cities, and the villages surrounding Tripoli. After recording early victories and almost reaching Tripoli, the rebels were repulsed with even more ruthless force by Gaddaffi’s security forces. The onslaught by President Gaddaffi’s forces continued and it became clear that the total defeat of the rebels was only a matter of days away. However, before the capitulation of the rebels could be secured, the United Nations stepped up its efforts to address the situation in Libya, apparently taking sides with the rebel and civilian groups that participated in widespread protests and attacks against President Gaddaffi’s rule.