Maghreb Edition

Libya’s Woes and Rivalries: a Divided Congress, the Militias and the FederalistsF



Posted On 11 July 2014

Number of times this article was read : 392

The North Africa Journal | Tension remains high in Libya. Factions with opposing ideologies and strong men at their top are facing each others with devastating potential for the future of the country.

In the Sirte region, tension has recently reached its highest level when troops from two feuding parties faced each other’s along the Oued Lehmar, which acts as the historical natural border of Cyrenaica on its western front, separating it from its rivals linked to Greater Tripoli. On one side were men from the Libya Shield Force militia of the center of Doraa. They were acting on behalf of the central government as enforcers seeking to discipline the Eastern Federalists. On the other side were the forces of the east, united under the Federalist Ibrahim Jathran, who has championed the autonomy movement in Libya. Continue here | Click here to subscribe | Contact us to discuss this topic

Sign up to free weekly recap on North Africa and the Sahel

We send out a weekly newsletter every Friday, highlighting the most important events of the week. Sign up today, it is free.

Why Morocco’s Protests Aren’t Just About Youth: The Fight for Dignity and JusticeF

Morocco is facing its largest wave of unrest in years, with mass protests erupting across major cities demanding better hospitals, schools, and an end to corruption.

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Southern Libya Boils Over: Three Haftar Soldiers Killed in Border Raid Near Niger✓

Three soldiers loyal to Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar were killed and several others captured in coordinated attacks on border posts near Niger, underscoring how southern Libya has become a key fault line in the country’s fractured security landscape. Fighters claiming to represent “revolutionaries of the South” say they are targeting Haftar’s forces over dire living conditions and alleged resource plunder, as cross-border armed groups test the limits of state control from Al-Tum to the Salvador Pass.

Tunisia Appeals Court Extends Rached Ghannouchi’s Prison Term by 20 Years✓

Rached Ghannouchi, the 84-year-old leader of Tunisia’s Ennahda party, has had his prison sentence increased to 20 years in a case known as “Conspiracy 2,” pushing his cumulative jail time from multiple convictions to more than four decades. His defense team says he will not seek a final appeal, denouncing the charges as politically driven and warning that the ruling deepens Tunisia’s crackdown on organized opposition.

With Saif al-Islam Killed, Gaddafi Dynasty’s Political Ambitions All But Collapse✓

Saif al‑Islam Gaddafi, the son of Libya’s longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi and a former presidential candidate, has been killed in the western town of Zintan by armed attackers. His death, confirmed by family and advisers, raises fresh questions about Libya’s fragile political balance.

Written by The NAJ

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.