Erik Prince, a former chief of security contractor Blackwater, sent weapons to a Libyan militia leader in violation of the UN arms embargo.
A confidential UN report sent to the Security Council and obtained by The New York Times shows that Prince sent foreign mercenaries with weapons such as attack planes and cannons to eastern Libya in 2019 to support Khalifa Haftar, the commander who fought to supplant the internationals. recognized Libyan government.
According to reports, the mercenaries involved in the plot planned the assassination of specific Libyan commanders.
The report adds to Blackwater’s infamy, which garnered international criticism in 2007 when its contractors killed 17 civilians in Iraq. Prince, former Navy SEAL and brother of the former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
Betsy DeVosBiden faces left-wing reaction to student loans When Randi Weingarten echoes Betsy Devos Schumer, Warren presents a bill asking Biden to pay off student loan debt MORE, mainly sends its resources to Africa, including many of its resource-rich but impoverished nations. He was also one of the first President Trump
Donald TrumpThune: Trump’s allies are involved in the “cancellation of culture” by punishing senators who voted to condemn the open Biden administration to restart nuclear talks with Iran. The Trump-McConnell split divides GOP MORE donorsthe strongest followers.
Prince did not cooperate with the UN investigation, but the accusation that he violated the arms embargo around Haftar leaves him open to possible sanctions.
The report details Prince’s involvement in the ongoing struggle in Libya. The war pits Haftar, a former CIA asset turned insurgent, against the internationally backed Tripoli government.
The government was propped up after the Arab Spring uprising that killed Muammar Qaddafi pushed the nation into anarchy.
Prince made his offer to help Haftar shortly after the start of the rebel leader’s fierce campaign to take Tripoli. Trump also expressed support for Haftar days after the meeting between Prince and the commander.
Although the mercenary operation in Libya was quickly undone by a dispute between Haftar and the troops, some resources, including a cyberwar team and several attack aircraft, remained once the mercenaries left.
The U.S. mission to the UN, which is a member of the Security Council, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
Prince last faced allegations of violations of international law in 2012, when he was also accused of breaking an arms embargo for sending weapons to Somalia.