By John Ikani
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has reported that approximately 2.5 tonnes of uranium have disappeared from an undisclosed location in Libya.
The IAEA raised the alarm after its inspectors visited the site earlier this week and discovered that 10 drums filled with uranium ore had gone missing.
The development has sparked concerns over potential radiological hazards as well as nuclear security threats.
According to the IAEA, it will undertake further investigations to “clarify the circumstances of the removal of the nuclear material and its current location.”
It is not yet clear when the uranium disappeared.
The inspectors had planned to visit the location last year, but the visit was postponed due to conflicts between different Libyan militias.
The IAEA also revealed that the location where the uranium was stored is not under the control of the Libyan government.
Libya has been plagued by political and military divisions following the ousting of former dictator Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011
The North African country is currently divided into two competing factions – an interim government in Tripoli and another in the east.
