** Libya: the Samir Shegwara affair and the shadows of the past **
On March 20, 2025, a man busy defending the memory of victims of tragic attacks saw his own name that has become synonymous with controversy. Samir Shegwara, a politician and co-author of a hard-hitting work accusing the Muammar Gaddafi regime of the Lockerbie and the DC-10 attacks of UTA, was arrested in Tripoli for illegal possession of classified documents. This arrest raises a multitude of questions about justice, historical truth, and the stifling power of the past in Libya.
### Justice or repression?
Shegwara is accused of attacking national security, an accusation which, at first glance, seems to question the legitimacy of his commitment. The documents he would have in his possession are by no means new; Their disclosure dates back to 2018. This flame return, coinciding with the release of his book the assassin that had to be saved, indicates, however, a loaded political context. The repercussions of this case raise the question: is Libyan justice really an instrument of equity, or a tool for repression to silence those who dare to question the status quo?
Arrests in national security surveys are common in more authoritarian regimes, where historical truth is often shaped to serve the interests in place. In Libya, where the memory of the crimes of the Gaddafi regime remains full of pain, the notion of justice then becomes complex and often cynical.
### Pressure and repression
Vincent Nouzille, one of the co -authors of the work, evokes this arrest as an attempted pressure on Shegwara. A relevant observation that echoes the methods used by many regimes to try to control the historical narration: by intimidating the said “denunciators”, we try to stifle the disturbing truths.
It is interesting to juxtapose this situation to that of other nations where the rewriting of history has often been used to manipulate public opinion. Take the example of Germany War II Germany, where many actors had to fight against a past heavy with consequences. Like Shegwara, critical voices have often been ostracized. The distinction here lies in the fact that, unlike some developed countries, Libya continues to live under the shadow of a tyrannical heritage, which makes the need for a fair and transparent trial even more glaring.
### The need to do justice
Stop dissident votes exacerbates not only the suffering of the victims, but also delays the national healing process. It is crucial to recall that the victims of the Lockerbie and the DC-10 attacks of UTA are not only figures; They represent human beings, lives lost in inexplicable acts of violence.
Guillaume Denoix de Saint Marc, whose father died in the attack against the DC-10, expresses a legitimate desire to see the judicial system operating in order to do justice. In an ideal world, such a trial would also have a cathartic value, allowing the families of the victims to access a long hidden truth, to consider a form of reconciliation.
### Statistics and consequences
It is also essential to examine the geopolitical consequences of this case. The attacks on which Gaddafi is generally associated, notably those of Lockerbie and DC-10 of UTA, had deep diplomatic ramifications, including the submission of Libya to international sanctions, even its reinstatement in the concert of nations. Shegwara’s book, illuminating the complicity of the regime, questions decades of diplomacy.
According to recent studies, Libya is still one of the most unstable and violent countries in the world, and internal conflicts continue to wreak havoc. Using Shegwara documents as proof, the international community could restore a certain sense of justice and a form of commitment to human rights in Libya.
### Conclusion: the call to truth
We must then question ourselves: what future for a country of which its past remains in key, paralyzed by the fear of reprisals? The persecution of Samir Shegwara is not only a judicial affair; It symbolizes a wider struggle for memory and truth. While the tears of the families of the victims continue to resonate, it is imperative that Libya confronts this past which it cannot flee, to clean up its foundations and make them conducive to real reconciliation.
This critical moment could well be an opportunity for transformation, highlighting the essential need for national dialogue and authentic justice for all the victims of past atrocities.