The world hardly needs reminding of what follows when states are allowed to fail. Whether it was Afghanistan offering safe haven to Al Qaeda before the events of September 11, 2001, Somalia fostering the scourge of piracy or Syria’s chaos allowing the rise of ISIL, the consequences of failed states rarely stay neatly within their lawless borders.
All this explains why the international community has a clear self interest in Libya emerging from its post-Qaddafi nightmare and fulfilling its considerable potential. Signs of progress have been emerging from the country, such as the announcement that a referendum on the new constitution will go ahead as planned in December. But the fact that the announcement was made in Tobruk because Tripoli has become a battleground between rival militias speaks volumes about Libya’s problems.
On one hand, the country is blessed with natural resources such as oil and gas, as well as having one of North Africa’s best educated populaces – many of whom are now in self-selected exile. But four decades of Muammar Qaddafi’s autocratic and nepotistic rule meant it had effectively no civil society to provide stability and continuity after his downfall.
Complicating this further is the violent legacy of Qaddafi's overthrow, which saw arms flow into the country and the creation of battle-hardened militias that see little incentive to hand over to civilian rule. The fierce five-week battle for Tripoli's international airport between mostly Islamist fighters and a nationalist militia showed that.
As history has shown time and again, rebuilding societies takes much longer and is much more difficult than destroying them. But equally obvious from any reading of history is that the alternative is unthinkable.
The crucial question is how to achieve this in Libya to prevent it becoming the next Afghanistan, Somalia or Syria. A return to constitutional government of the kind envisaged in the draft constitution is a start but that will not take root unless Libya is able to create a national military involving from most of the militias. Nobody should underestimate the difficulty of this but it can be done, as Lebanon showed after its bloody civil war.
The source of the assistance for Libya is equally important and this is a time for the Arab League to rise to the challenge. Egypt in particular has much at stake in preventing Libya destabilising the whole of North Africa. But as ISIL has shown, the international community as a whole has to act.
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
