UN nuclear watchdog says 2.5 tons of uranium has gone missing in Libya
PBS NewsHourNov 23, 2022
The Facts
Ten drums of uranium ore that had been reported missing in Libya were recovered on Thursday near the border with Chad, according to armed forces in the country's east. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says it is "actively working to verify" the reports.
The IAEA first reported on Wednesday that about 2.5 tons of natural uranium went missing from a Libyan site not controlled by the interim government, prompting nuclear safety concerns.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While the recovery of the missing uranium is a major relief, this incident is a reminder that the country's security situation must finally be rectified. The best way to achieve this would be to hold the overdue elections this year to unite a divided country. The various factions must embark on the path of democracy for the good of Libya, and the West can be counted on to support this process. Libyans have freed themselves from the Gaddafi dictatorship, and they deserve a democratic and peaceful nation.
Establishment-critical narrative
The deeper cause underlying the conditions in which uranium can simply disappear ultimately stems from NATO's 2011 military assault on the country with Africa's largest known oil reserves. Though Libyans previously enjoyed a comparatively high standard of living, as well as safety in their own country, the North African nation plunged into chaos after its "liberation" and virtually turned into a failed state. It is the West that is to blame for the security risks resulting from Libya's fragmentation.
