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Libya

November 27, 2024

Tripoli 3:33 am

17°C

Forces opposed to Libya's unity government ride a truck in the Zueitina oil terminal, Sept. 14, 2016.

Analysis

After Libya's Central Bank turmoil, can its oil sector recover?

Although largely resolved, Libya’s Central Bank crisis highlighted the vulnerability of the country’s oil sector, which depends on political and security stability.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

By Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In Exmouth, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

ENI headquarter in San Donato Milanese, near Milan, Italy, Oct. 27, 2017.

After decade halt, Eni, BP resume hydrocarbon exploration in Libya

Onshore drilling had been suspended for a decade, since the beginning of the Libyan civil war between rival factions in the country’s east and west.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday hosts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during the Egyptian leader's first-ever Turkey visit, in Ankara, on Sept. 4, 2024.

Analysis

With reconstruction in mind, can Turkey-Egypt thaw offer lifeline for Libya?

The complex interplay of regional and international interests and entrenched divisions within Libya itself suggest that progress may be slow and difficult to achieve.

Mohamed Eljarh

By Mohamed Eljarh

Members of the Libyan Army, under the command of the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, fire live ammunition during a drill in the western town of Tarhuna , on March 6, 2023.

Analysis

Libyan Central Bank standoff fuels conflict fears as Turkey, Russia send weapons

For the sixth time since 2021, the European Union’s naval air mission was blocked from inspecting the cargo of a Turkish-flagged vessel suspected of ferrying weapons to Libya.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

In London, reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

At Africa summit, China elevates ties with Libya, invests $14M in Egypt

China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang (C) delivers his speech.

Libya factions agree to appoint new central bank chief to end crisis: UN

A bank teller counts money as a customer looks on at a bank in Libya's western coastal city of Misrata on Aug. 25, 2024.

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Interview

From Turkey, exiled Libyan Central Bank governor decries 'coup d'etat'

Police officers stand guard outside Libya's Central Bank headquarters in Tripoli on Aug. 27, 2024.

Sadiq al-Kabir

Sadiq al-Kabir

Governor of the Central Bank of Libya

New Mideast threats mean uncertainty for oil, trade, stability in August

A picture taken on October 13, 2021 shows Kuwait's largest oil refinery at the Al-Ahmadi complex, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the capital Kuwait City. - A fire broke out on October 18, 2021 in Al-Ahmadi refinery, with no interruptions to site operations or petrol exports.

Jonathan Fenton-Harvey

In Exmouth, reporting on North Africa and Gulf politics

Islam Alatrash

In Misrata, reporting on Libyan migration

Mohamed Eljarh

Libya art exhibit paints bleak picture of post-Arab Spring society

At an art exhibit in Tripoli, artists displayed haunting works related to their personal experiences in the post-revolution conflicts in Libya and the entire region.

(front R-L) Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz pose for a group photograph during the 28t

Ineptitude meets low altitude at Arab League summit

Few major breakthroughs were reached at this year's Arab League Summit held in Jordan.

General Khalifa Haftar, commander in the Libyan National Army (LNA), leaves after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - RTSTRVH

Putin gets some payback with 'alternative project' for Libya

Why Putin backs Hifter; Barzani’s Sinjar dilemma; Israel’s missing Gaza policy; GCC moves to the margins on Syria.

What is Russia’s thinking on Libya?

In its effort to pursue national security interests in the Middle East, Russia is increasingly involved in the conflict in Libya.

Armed members of Shi'ite militia Hashid Shaabi ride a motorbike near Qayyara, south of Mosul, Iraq October 27, 2016. Smoke in the background is from burning oilfields set ablazed by Islamic State fighters. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic - RTX2QNPU

Benghazi blowback hamstrings US role in post-IS Iraq

Congress is weighing America's role after Mosul amid looming budget cuts and paralyzing partisanship.

A member of East Libyan forces holds his weapon as he stands in front of a destroyed house in Ganfouda district in Benghazi, Libya, January 28, 2017. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori - RTSXTD1

How serious is Russia's commitment to Libya settlement?

Now that recent talks to unite Libya's rival governments have failed, observers are evaluating the extent of Moscow's investment in peaceful reconciliation.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Libya's neighbour states and United Nations' envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler, in Cairo, Egypt January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RTSWOGC

Cairo continues to mediate Libya conflict despite failures

Assuming a mediator role between conflicting Libyan parties, Egypt has recently met with both sides over finding a political solution but has yet to make substantial progress.

Egyptian film battles IS with comedy

Egyptians are turning out in droves to see a new Egyptian movie satirizing the Islamic State, which aims to target the terrorist group and extremism from a different perspective.

A woman prepares breakfast in candlelight during a blackout inside a kitchen in her house in Tripoli, Libya, January 15, 2017. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny - RTSVKY8

How quarrel over tobacco sent Libya into darkness

A recent electricity blackout in most of western Libya caused by a local militia dispute has contributed to the new normal of major power cuts and a failing national electricity grid in the country.

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri speaks during a news conference after meeting with representatives from Libya's neighbour states and United Nations' envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler, in Cairo, Egypt January 21, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany - RTSWOHO

Egypt goes against international current with Libya support

Amid accusations that Egypt is sending weapons to Libya in violation of the arms ban, Cairo is still working to convince the UN Security Council to support Gen. Hifter and the Libyan National Army.

A member of Libyan forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar holds a weapon as he sits on a car in front of the gate at Zueitina oil terminal in Zueitina, west of Benghazi, Libya September 14, 2016. Picture taken September 14, 2016. REUTERS/Esam Omran Al-Fetori - RTSNU2U

US strike rekindles debate over Trump plans for Libya

Barack Obama made a show of battling the Islamic State in conjunction with Tripoli's UN-backed unity government. Will the new president drop the GNA for an anti-Islamist strongman?

General Khalifa Haftar (C), commander in the Libyan National Army (LNA), leaves after a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, November 29, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov - RTSTRVG

What game is Russia playing in Libya?

Russia appears headed toward greater involvement in Libya, a development that could have catastrophic consequences for Libya and the region.