Meanwhile, Haftar launched a years-long military offensive that left him in control of large swaths of territory. More than a dozen outside powers recently pledged to stop interfering in Libya’s civil war and respect the terms of a cease-fire. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Russian mercenaries, a CIA-linked general and lots of oil: Explaining Libya's war Published Wed, Jan 29 2020 2:11 AM EST Updated Thu, Jan 30 2020 1:12 AM EST Natasha Turak @NatashaTurak Putin’s Russia is on the resurgence in the International Politics particularly after the events of 2014. How COVID-19 is reshaping International Relations across the Globe? In a recent development, Germany invited all stakeholders in the Libyan crisis including Turkey, Egypt, UAE, Algeria and Morocco alongside five permanent members of the UN security council. Meanwhile, Turkey and Russia have taken charge. ... "Today" co-anchor Matt Lauer explained NBC's position at the beginning of a broadcast of the morning show, saying news executives had concluded that the current fighting met the definition of a civil war. The GNA includes a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated faction. Fighting was largely confined to the south western Benghazi districts of Hawari and Sidi Ferej. The regime of Muammar al-Qaddafi, however, violently resisted the uprising, leading to civil war and international military intervention. Civil War in Libya A member of the self-styled Libyan National Army gives a class aimed at raising awareness about mines and explosives to schoolboys in … A temporary cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia last week appeared to be largely holding as of Thursday despite minor clashes. Haftar enjoys the support of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Russia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and France. ( Log Out /  Russia, meanwhile, has taken advantage to expand its influence in the region in the absence of unified Western engagement. This month has seen a flurry of diplomacy on Libya. The current bout of civil war began a year ago when eastern-based Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar attacked the capital, Tripoli, one of the last remaining strongholds of … Nine months on, the offensive has resulted in a volatile stalemate. Sunday’s conference brings together many countries with stakes in Libya. The Associated Press recently found that vast sums of EU money make their way into the hands of militants and coast guard officers who exploit and abuse migrants. France’s oil giant ‘Total’ has access to oil fields in the Eastern Libya which are under the control of Haftar’s LNA. Russia has been accused of deploying mercenaries in the country. The Libyan Civil War was a civil war in Libya during the year 2011. Demonstrators picked up arms from government arms depots, and a number of military officials defected. Violence escalated in 2014, and after disputed elections that year the country became split between two administrations, with al-Sarraj taking the helm of the GNA in 2016. By gaining stakes in the Libyan conflict through mercenaries and diplomatically standing for peace initiatives, Moscow may utilise the conflict for gaining leverage over Ankara in Idilib, Syria and can also pressure European Union for waving off sanctions. As civil war erupts, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria captures port city of Derna. In-depth reporting, data and actionable intelligence for policy professionals – all in one place. Yet with France and Italy backing opposing sides, the EU has struggled to respond to the chaos unfolding in Libya; the French government last year blocked an EU statement calling on Haftar to stop his Tripoli offensive. The participants of the conference agreed on finding a political solution to the problem and ensuring ceasefire between the belligerents. This development has further intricated the conflict where multiple powers are involved for various dimensions of interests. General Khalifa Haftar | Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty Images. For Ankara, the survival of government in Tripoli is important for various reasons. Moscow may utilise the conflict for gaining leverage over Ankara in Idilib, Syria and can also pressure European Union for waving off sanctions. In 1975 he published his manifesto The Green Book. The Libyan conflict is the result of a complex and controversial series of developments, where local political events have been strongly influenced and driven by exogenous factors. Turkey and Qatar, on the other hand, are backers of the Muslim Brotherhood. They violently protested against the government. The UAE has significantly aided Haftar with air support and advanced weapons, according to the U.N. Saudi Arabia has reportedly supported Haftar with generous funds, and Egypt has provided his forces with weapons and support through its porous border with Libya. Ahead of Sunday’s conference, here’s a brief guide to the Libyan crisis and the conflict’s international dimensions. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on German politics. Over the last few years foreign powers have increasingly intervened in Libya’s civil war to defend their own strategic and economic interests. Migration is another concern; Rome last year renewed a controversial migration agreement with the GNA. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Ever since the killing of Libya’s dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has not seen peace as a bloody civil war has been ensuing between two of the factions for control of the country’s capital. The conflict is complex, given the involvement of regional and extra-regional powers which are backing either of the two in the light of their own national interests. From 1969 until 1975 standards of living, life expectancy and literacy grew rapidly. Libya Revolt of 2011, popular uprising in Libya inspired by the Arab Spring revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. Libyan Revolution of 2011 initiated with nonviolent political protests modeled after the events in Tunisia and Egypt, and quickly escalated to a full fledge civil war. ( Log Out /  The views expressed in this article are solely those of the original author and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of Rationale 47. Given its successful intervention in Syria, its stake in the conflict cannot be neglected. Since all opposition groups were oppressed for decades, the power shift presented an opportunity for both moderate and extremist factions to vie for power. The European Union has struggled to find a unified approach to the crisis in Libya, despite the country’s proximity to its shores. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Latest news, analysis and comment on elections in Europe and beyond. The rival administrations are also fighting for control of the country’s oil reserves, the largest in Africa and the backbone of Libya’s economy. Egypt has also been essentially deploying Sudanese militia in support for Haftar’s offensives. The Haftar controlled region borders with Egypt and therefore it has been an easy task for Egypt to channel weapons for Haftar’s LNA. In recent years, Libya’s conflict has turned into a proxy war, with a number of foreign powers joining in to defend ideological and economic interests. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, is recognized by the United Nations and backed by a host of militias. His areas of interest include National Security of Pakistan and International Politics, particularly of Afghanistan and Middle East. Both sides enjoy the support of foreign powers. Although, the conflict has been going on for the past nine years, the current hostilities are referred to as the second Libyan Civil war which began in 2014. Haftar, a onetime Gaddafi ally, presents himself as a bulwark against extremists, while opponents see in him a would-be dictator. U.N. resolutions name Libya’s state oil company, the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation (NOC), as the only entity permitted to manage and sell the country’s oil, though there have been attempts by Haftar to break its monopoly. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on the continent. Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Thursday traveled to Benghazi to meet Haftar, and said the general had agreed to travel to Berlin. POLITICO’s weekly newsletter on campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the U.K. Log in to access content and manage your profile. Where Turkey and Egypt are locking horns against each other by supporting GNA and LNA respectively along with their allies, it is imperative to understand the prominence of Russian role which has been a hot debate since Moscow’s deployment of at least 200 mercenaries of Wagner Group which has ties with Kremlin. The Turkish interests also run counter to Israel which aims to become a net exporter of gas via Leviathan Gas project which plans to export Israel’s gas to Europe via Cyprus and Greece. According to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, since April 2019, over 2,600 Libyans including hundreds of civilians have been killed. LIBYAN CIVIL WAR 6 . It began in the middle of February 2011. It has successfully managed to become a heavy weight on the geopolitical chessboard, particularly after its effective intervention in Syria. As per the Council on Foreign Relations’ Global Conflict Tracker, the civil war in Libya has created over 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers, while more than 268,000 people have been displaced. Talks to de-escalate the hostilities are set to be held in Berlin on Sunday. The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, is recognized by the United Nations and backed by a host of militias. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. France also has oil interests in Libya. succeeded by Ali Tarhouni (Paula, 2011). In November 2019, the two countries reached a maritime delineation agreement which would impact Mediterranean Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and provide Turkey the opportunity to explore and drill for gas and also construct pipelines. Al-Sarraj also announced on Thursday that he will attend the talks. The war lasted over eight months until Gaddafi was captured and assassinated in October of that same year. Libya is a complex theatre of civil war which has been caused by collapse of institutions and generation of power vacuum. The rival administration in the country's east is allied with warlord General Khalifa Haftar, who commands the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA). This paper will describe the Greed versus Grievance Theory and why it is a useful theoretical framework to address the incentives for the outbreak of the 2011 Libyan Civil War. ( Log Out /  He officially stepped down from power in 1977, and subsequently claimed to be merely a "symbolic figurehead" until 2011, with the Libyan governmentup unt… The Turkish justification offered by president Erdogan stated that the country had an agreement of military cooperation with the legitimate government of Libya and since the UAE and Egypt were pouring in military support against it, Turkey had the right to balance if the Libyan government requested and payed for arms. The prominence of Russian role has been a hot debate since Moscow’s deployment of at least 200 mercenaries of Wagner Group which has ties with Kremlin. Rome considers Haftar’s role critical in stemming immigration to Italy which has been one of its major concerns. Notwithstanding the fact that the regional and extra-regional powers are exploiting the situation for their own interests, the solution lies within Libya. The GNA, meanwhile, has struggled to assert its authority and is plagued by infighting. Despite such significant support, the fact that Moscow is acting as a powerbroker is evident from the fact that it welcomed GNA’s Fayez Al-Sarraj in Sochi in October. He abolished the Libyan Constitution of 1951, considering it a neocolonial document. Brussels has largely focused on migration management, but its cooperation with the Libyan coast guard has come under intense criticism from human rights advocates. Second, Turkey’s renewed resolve in Libya is both a geopolitical and economic adventure aimed at securing its share in Mediterranean energy. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE see in Haftar an ally against the spread of political Islam and in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, which they list as a terrorist organization. Haftar left Russia without signing an agreement for a permanent cease-fire, but according to Germany, he backs the existing temporary truce. Change ), Enter your email address to receive our latest pieces in your inbox. Successive administrations have failed to control the country’s many militias, which wield the real power in Libya. Two governments are vying for control of Libya. An appeal for European support from al-Sarraj last year was left largely unanswered. Tom. Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Indian Citizenship Act Might Aggravate China’s Vulnerabilities, Review | Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the future of the global Jihad by Bruce Riedel, Renewed QUAD: Indo-US Joint Effort to Counter Chinese Designs. Two governments are vying for control of Libya. In the European Union, France and Italy have been deviating from the official line that supports the GNA in Tripoli. There have also been reports of Syrian fighters allied to Turkey joining the fight in support of al-Sarraj. Adding to the mix, Russia’s Taftnet resumed exploration activities late last year. On Feb. 15, 2011, the first civil war in Libya, also known as the Libyan Revolution, began.The Libyan Revolution was fought between Muammar Gaddafi’s regime and opposing rebel forces who wanted to overthrow Gaddafi’s oppressive government. Libya is a complex theatre of civil war which has been caused by collapse of institutions and generation of power vacuum. The Turkish government has already provided Tripoli with equipment such as drones. Libya is also awash in weapons, and though the Islamic State affiliate there was defeated, extremism remains a concern. Enter your email addresses were also present but did not meet face to face strategic and adventure... And violence erupts between GNC advocates and loyalists to the mix, Russia has been dubious with officially the. Address to receive our latest pieces in your details below or click an icon to Log in to content! 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