Libya
Located on the Mediterranean Sea in North Africa, Libya shares borders with Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, Chad, and Niger. Libya emerged as in independent state in 1951 after being previously held by the Ottoman Empire and Italy. In 1969 Colonel Muammar Gaddafi initiated a military coup that brought him to power. In the 1970’s the dictatorship of Gaddafi utilized the nation’s energy revenues to sponsor terror activities in North Africa and Europe. Gaddafi’s sponsorship of terrorism and his strong armed dictatorship made Libya an international pariah. The United Nations instituted sanctions that hurt LIbya’s economy and further isolated the nation. Libya under Gaddafi appeared to be making strides towards joining the international community after compensating victims of its terror attacks and halting its nuclear program. However, in 2011 became engulfed in the unrest of the Arab Spring.
In early 2011 protestors demonstrated heavily against Gaddafi’s dictatorship. Gaddafi met these protestors with a brutal crackdown. The dictatorship used heavy violence to try to quell the domestic unrest. What unfurled next was a civil war that spawned U.N. authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. For several months government and oppositions forces traded blows, ultimately ushering the death of Gaddafi and the installment of a transitional government. The transitional government led to Libya’s first elections in which the General National Congress was voted into power. Yet the General National Congress soon became dominated by Islamists and implemented unpopular reforms while failing to rebuild the nation. In 2014, after losing the election to the Council of Deputies, the General National Congress refused to step down and civil war has ensued. Meanwhile, Islamic extremist groups including the Islamic State have moved into the country and taken control of swaths of territory.
In early 2011 protestors demonstrated heavily against Gaddafi’s dictatorship. Gaddafi met these protestors with a brutal crackdown. The dictatorship used heavy violence to try to quell the domestic unrest. What unfurled next was a civil war that spawned U.N. authorization of air and naval intervention by the international community. For several months government and oppositions forces traded blows, ultimately ushering the death of Gaddafi and the installment of a transitional government. The transitional government led to Libya’s first elections in which the General National Congress was voted into power. Yet the General National Congress soon became dominated by Islamists and implemented unpopular reforms while failing to rebuild the nation. In 2014, after losing the election to the Council of Deputies, the General National Congress refused to step down and civil war has ensued. Meanwhile, Islamic extremist groups including the Islamic State have moved into the country and taken control of swaths of territory.
SocialOverview: While Libya is the 16th largest nation in the world, 90% of the population resides in just 10% of the land. The Berber ethnic group is the largest in Libya, but due to foreign invasions over hundreds of years most of the population is a mix of Berber, Arab, and Turkish. Though exact numbers are not available due to the difficulty of a census in a war zone, foreign migrants make up around 6% of the population.
Demographics:
Trends: The population of Libya has been deeply affected by the Libyan civil war. Large numbers of refugees have left the nation. Meanwhile, the economy is in shambles and the nation’s infrastructure has been devastated. EconomicsEconomic System: The civil war in Libya has completely upended its economic system. Today, lack of security is the overarching factor behind an economy in shambles. In times of peace, Libya relied on exports from its energy sector. While Libya’s small population and massive exports gave it the highest GDP in Africa, this was not reflected in investment in infrastructure of high standards of living. A third of Libyans were at or before poverty level before the civil conflicts. The violence and instability has further degraded the living conditions of the average Libyan and discouraged any foreign investment.
Economic Trends: Previously, the extraction of Libya’s abundant source of oil and natural gas was successfully contracted to international agents without issue. With the recent turmoil surrounding the downfall of Qadhafi’s regime, Libya has jeopardized continued levels of foreign interest. Components of this range from unstable security in the region and lack of permanence in the state’s leadership to disagreements over financial provisions. Economic Resources: Industries that Libya operates in include those of petroleum, petrochemicals, aluminum, iron and steel, food processing, and textiles. Exports consist of crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, and chemicals. |
PoliticalPolitical Groups: The fall of Gaddafi in 2011 created a power vacuum that a national reconciliation has not yet filled. Today the situation is fractured at best, with various Islamist, tribal, and political groups holding power in areas of Libya. Following the fall of the Gaddafi dictatorship, a 2012 national vote elected the General National Congress (GNC) to draft a new constitution. The Libyan public soon became disenchanted with the GNC as it became apparent that Islamists in parliament held disproportionate power. Meanwhile, Libyans viewed the parliament and corrupt and unwilling to rebuild the nation. Despite the negative public reaction to the GNC, the GNC decided to extend its term without a public vote.
The GNC’s undemocratic decision to extend its mandate on power fueled major discontent in Libya. The Libyan army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, began an operation to remove the parliament. However, the GNC capitulated to new elections in June 2014. The GNC suffered lost the election and was to be replaced by a new parliament called the Council of Deputies. However, the GNC disavowed the results of the election and vowed to hold power while the international community recognized the Council of Deputies as the official government of Libya. The refusal of the GNC to step down sparked civil strife in Libya. General Khalifa Haftar, who is aligned with the Council of Deputies, has launched operations to remove the GNC from their capital in Tripoli and stronghold of Northwestern Libya. Currently, the Council of Deputies operates out of Tobruk and controls much of Eastern Libya. The addition of the Islamic State has further endangered and complicated the situation in Libya. The terrorist organization has made major inroads to the country and controls about 150 miles of central coastline. The Islamic State franchise in Libya is viewed by Western intelligence as its most dangerous offshoot. Additionally, tribal forces hold power in various regions with the Tuareg forces controlling the Southwestern desert. As of January 2016 a ceasefire between the GNC and Council of Deputies has been called and peace talks have begun. Political Conflicts: Libya is a quagmire of political conflicts. The GNC and the Council of Deputies have fought for power. Numerous tribal factions and militias throughout the nation continue to fight for power. Radical Islamic groups led by the Islamic State hope to gain territory and continue to fight all opposition forces. Allies & Adversaries: The majority of the international community including the United States supports the Council of Deputies. Qatar, Sudan, and Turkey support the GNC. Military, Intelligence & Law EnforcementOverview: No single military can claim to control Libya. The civil war in the nation mean that the military power in Libya is divided. The internationally recognized Libyan National Army has tentative control over the Eastern part of the control while the General National Congress holds the North Western part of Libya. The Islamic State has taken control of 150 miles of Northern coastline. Tuareg forces hold the southeast of the country. The competing governments continue to battle each other and the Islamic State. Meanwhile, smaller armed factions and various militias hold power in localities and also engage in combat with all groups.
InformationFreedom of the press: Libya has little to no freedom of the press. TV channels, radio stations, and printed press are controlled by the military, militias, or Islamist groups. Foreign journalists have been abducted and harassed. The security situation in the country prevents many areas from being accessed.
Media institutions: TV, radio, and printed press, yet all are controlled by groups with competing interests that promote their own agendas. Social media use has grown rapidly and was instrumental to the spread of information in the 2011 revolution. Infrastructure
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