SWP Comment: The limits to Libya's unity

Demonstration in Tripoli celebrating the anniversary of the revolution in Libya (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Although a unity government was formed in Libya in March 2021, tensions and possible crises between the political actors are already emerging. What problems does the country face? Wolfram Lacher examines the current situation in the North African country.

The formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) under Abdelhamid Dabeiba in March 2021 was a breakthrough in efforts to overcome Libya’s political division. But the settlement’s flaws are already starting to show.

So far, political actors have merely agreed to compete for access to state funds within a unified government. Distributive struggles could soon test the government’s cohesion.

Meanwhile, substantive disagreements are being shoved aside; in particular, the government is trying to ignore the challenges in the security sector. Unless progress is made towards elections that are planned for December 2021, tensions between profiteers and opponents of the government risk provoking a new political crisis. But even the elections themselves harbour potential for renewed conflict.

© Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, 2021