Far from uniting Libya, an eastern-based commander’s bid to take Tripoli has further devastated a country torn apart by almost a decade of unrest. When General Khalifa Haftar launched his offensive on 4 April 2019, he was confident of a hero’s welcome. Instead, he met fierce resistance.
One year on and the promised quick victory is nowhere to be seen. More than 150,000 have been displaced and hundreds killed. Under the guise of local tribes, Mr Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) has brought Libya’s lifeline oil exports practically to a halt (MEES, 24 January). If prospects for a peaceful settlement between the eastern and western based administrations were slim a year ago, they are almost non-existent now. (CONTINUED - 870 WORDS)
