Libya’s First Civil War
On March 19th, 2011, NATO led its first multi-state military coalition into Libya. The UN Security Council’s intent was to have “an immediate ceasefire in Libya, including an end to the current attacks against civilians, which it said might constitute “crimes against humanity”’. The initial coalition of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Norway, Qatar, Spain, UK and US expanded to nineteen states.
Following the death of Muammar Gaddafi on October 20th, 2011, the fighting was resolved and NATO put an end to their intervention as of October 31st. NATOs military intervention in Libya lasted seven months, one week, and five days.
As a result of NATOs initial intervention, the country faced the overthrow of their government Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya which was formerly led by Muammar Gaddafi. The ending of Libya’s first civil war ultimately led to further conflict and Libya’s second civil war, which officially started in 2014.
Libya’s Second Civil War
The death of Muammar Gaddafi created a power vacuum within the region; warring militias were left scrambling for power. Two major players within Libya during this time were the Government of National Accords and the Libyan National Army.
Is This A Foreign War Being Fought On Libyan Land?
Government of National Accords
After civil unrest following the former dictators death, the Government of National Accords was formed in 2015 as an interim government by the UN. The GNAs headquarters were located in the country’s capitol, Tripoli. The GNAs allies included:
- Turkey
- Qatar
- Syrian National Army
- Italy
- Malta
- United Nations
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Pakistan
- Algeria
- Tunisia
- Morocco
- Iran
Countries like Turkey and Italy claim they support and intervene in Libyan matters purely out of duty to fight for human rights. Yet, it is very coincidental Turkey has been trying to gain drilling rights in the Mediterranean sea. While Italy has many oil companies and assets within Libya they are also dependent on Libyan hydrocarbons, migration, and terrorism. Italy did it’s best to claim neutrality with both the GNA and LNA but ultimately funded GNA. Turkey is also interested in recouping all or part of $20 billion deals that was made with the Gadhafi prior to his overthrow in 2011. Many of these deals are in energy, construction, and engineering. Qatar already supported Libya the overthrowing of Muammar Gaddafi in the first civil war and remains dependent on Turkey’s military support against potential Saudi offensive is very likely to influence Qatar’s stance.
The Libyan National Army
The Libyan National Army was led by General Khalifa Haftar which was back by the Libyan House of Representatives (HOR). The LNA was based in the city of Tobruk after a failed attempt at capturing Tripoli. The LNA is backed by, and uses foreign mercenaries from:
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
- Egypt
- Israel
- France
Egypt is located directly on the eastern border of Libya. Egypt has been in support of the LNA pending General Haftar keeps all rebel fighting out of Egypt. France entered and supplied troops to the LNA partially to gain credit with its most important defense-industry client, the UAE. France denied any support that it provided the LNA until the crash of a French military helicopter near Benghazi in 2016, further confirming France’s involvement. U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon noted in 1957: Libya occupies a “key strategic position” on the southern flank of NATO. This gives motive for Russia’s involvement in order to gain a position to further weaken the NATO organization. In addition Libya opens the door to Russia for more infrastructure projects, arms deals, and sales of agricultural goods. The UAE wants to establish an authoritarian dictatorship in Libya that will cut out all forms of political Islam in governance. The UAE is “committed to eradicating any mode of governance that may accept or defend the Muslim Brotherhood or a similar faction as a legitimate political strand in Tripoli”(Harchaoui). The UAE has conducted more than 850 airstrikes on General Haftars behalf. Israel has supplied arms and trained troops of the LNA.
April 2019
- April 4: Khalifa Haftar orders LNA to conduct an attack on Tripoli to attempt to take over the Libyan capitol
- April 5: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets Haftar to express his opinions and concerns
- April 6: GNA head, Fayez Al-Sarraj says in a televised speech that Haftar would meet firm resistance
- April 7: The GNA announces a counter attack to purge all Libyan cities of aggressors and illegitimate forces
- April 8: The LNA conducts air raids on Tripoli’s airport in which the head of the UNSMIL (United Nations Support Mission In Libya), Ghassan Salame, condemns the LNA’s air raid.
- April 9: The UN evacuates 150 refugees from a detention center in Tripoli
United Nations Support Mission In Libya
In July 2019, Ghassan Salamé, the head of the UNSMIL, proposed a three-point peace plan
- a ceasefire
- an international meeting of implicated countries for enforcing the arms embargo
- an internal Libyan conference composed of economic, military and political tracks.
In January of 2020 a conference between representatives in the Libyan armed conflict and major world powers took place in Berlin. This led to the declaration of 55-point list of Conclusions and creating a military GNA+LNA follow-up committee.
In August 2020, Fayez al-Sarraj and Aguila Saleh (leader of the HOR), declared a ceasefire, lifting of the oil blockade, the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections in March 2021.
On October 23, 2020, the 5+5 Joint Libyan Military Commission reached a “permanent ceasefire agreement in all areas of Libya”, which required all foreign fighters leave Libya. As of October 23rd, 2020 the Libya’s Second Civil War has reached its end.
In January of 2021, the Advisory Committee of the Libya Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) created a proposal for a procedure for selecting a unified executive authority for Libya. This procedure was passed and approved.
Foreign Intervention and Conflict Resolution
The Peacebuilding Palette:
- Security
Libyan Rivals Sign Peace Agreement. 2020 - Political framework
- Socio-economic framework
- Reconciliation and justice
As the situation in Libya improves the dissolution of the Libyan conflict was helped by the level of security finally achieved by 2020. The exile of foreign fighters upon the agreement of patrolling officers built a level of security within the country. The reintegration of combatants is seen with the 5+5 Joint Libyan Military Commission. Disarmament is seen with Ghassan Salamé’s 3 Point Peace Plan.
The political framework is a work in progress but continues to improve following the ending of their Second Civil War. Libya has began holding elections again and has recently voted to implement a new interim government.
The socio-economic framework, reconciliation and justice is Libya’s next step.
Badi, Emadeddin. “Russia Isn’t the Only One Getting Its Hands Dirty in Libya.” Foreign Policy, 21 Apr. 2020, https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/21/libyan-civil-war-france-uae-khalifa-haftar/.
Baloi, Ana-Maria. “Libyan Civil War: Qatar Involvement.” Grey Dynamics, 12 Aug. 2021, https://www.greydynamics.com/libyan-civil-war-qatar-involvement/.
“France Must Recognize Its Role in Libya’s Plight.” Atlantic Council, 21 July 2020, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/france-must-recognize-its-role-in-libyas-plight/.
“Israel’s Little-Known Support for Haftar’s War in Libya.” Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-little-known-support-haftar-war-libya.
“Missione in Libia: Cambio Al Vertice Della Task Force Ippocrate.” Missione in Libia: Cambio Al Vertice Della Task Force Ippocrate, https://www.difesa.it/OperazioniMilitari/op_intern_corso/Libia_Missione_bilaterale_di_supporto_e_assistenza/notizie_teatro/Pagine/Missione_in_Libia_cambio_al_vertice_della_Task_Force_Ippocrate.aspx.
Tarek Megerisi, Arturo Varvelli. “Italy’s Chance in Libya.” ECFR, 16 June 2020, https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_italys_chance_in_libya/.
TheAfricaReport. “Libya: Italy Refuses to Choose between Tripoli and Haftar.” The Africa Report.com, The Africa Report, 11 Aug. 2020, https://www.theafricareport.com/37172/libya-italy-refuses-to-choose-between-tripoli-and-haftar/.
“UNSMIL Welcomes Agreement between Libyan Parties on Permanent Country-Wide Ceasefire Agreement with Immediate Effect.” UNSMIL, 23 Oct. 2020, https://unsmil.unmissions.org/unsmil-welcomes-agreement-between-libyan-parties-permanent-country-wide-ceasefire-agreement.