Interior Minister Mazig reveals that 30 percent of city security cameras are installed

By Sami Zaptia.

Tripoli, 10 April 2014:

Interior Minister Salah Mazig revealed that about 30 percent of CCTV security cameras have been installed in Libya’s major cities.

The revelation came during a meeting held last Monday between the Interior Minister and the head of the Administrative Control Authority (ACA) held at the ACA’s Tripoli headquarters.

The Interior Minister also went on to disclose that some new gear and equipment have been supplied to the various regional heads of security.

The Interior Minister gave no further details on the cameras, their numbers, their locations or the cities in which they were installed, in what is believed to be the first official Libyan confirmation that security cameras have been installed in Libya’s major cities.

The revelation by the Interior Minister is a very important one in view of the Libyan state’s battle to gain the upper hand in imposing security across the country.

The issue of security cameras had become a very controversial topic especially in the city of Benghazi which has seen a spate of insecurity and violence in the form of assassinations and bombings.

Residence of the city have been very critical of the Tripoli-based government for its reluctance in releasing funds and hastening the process of installing security cameras to counter the spread of insecurity.

It will be very interesting to see what effect if any the installation of security cameras in Libya’s main cities, and especially in Benghazi, will have on the security situation. A lot of hope has been pinned on the use of cameras with no real evidence that they will be pivotal in turning the security situation to the advantage of the central authorities.

At the meeting, the head of the ACA complained to the Interior Minister about the lack of cooperation by security managers in some regions as well as security personnel at border points with the ACA local branches.

The head of the ACA also stressed the need for security personnel to cooperate with the state Food Safety Agency in the monitoring of food products entering Libya.

The ACA is the body in charge of monitoring, disciplining as well as dealing with complaints against state-employees and departments, including claims of corruption.

The Minister of Interior undertook at the meeting to issue a directive to all departments under the Ministry of Interior with regards to the ACA’s requests, which includes the Customs Department and the various border agencies. [/restrict]