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Libyan Unity Talks Collapse Over Drone Attacks
Developing
In Short: The collapse of the unity talks could further destabilize Libya, which has been grappling with political and security challenges since the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.
The attacks, which occurred over five days in August, targeted the Zawiya oil station and fuel storage facilities, significantly disrupting Libya’s fuel supply. One of the targeted tanks held approximately 4.5 million liters of fuel, according to Libya’s National Oil Corporation.
The US-backed plan to unify Libya’s security, judicial, and political institutions under Haftar’s leadership has now collapsed. The plan, hatched by Donald Trump’s Africa adviser Massad Boulos, aimed to merge the two Libyan governments, with Haftar taking the role of president and a member of the Dbeibah family from the west becoming prime minister.
On September 5, three Libyans and one Spanish citizen were arrested in southern Tripoli by the GNU for their alleged involvement in a plot that was intended to include an attack on Tripoli airport. The three Libyans were reportedly affiliated with the Tareq ben Ziyad brigade, an LNA formation.
The collapse of the unity talks could further destabilize Libya, which has been grappling with political and security challenges since the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges in Libya’s efforts to achieve stability and unity, with the latest developments highlighting the role of armed groups and their influence on political processes.
Background
Russian drone attacks on Wednesday killed two people and wounded over 40 in Kyiv, including 22 children.
What's still developing
- Western Libya’s GNU say working with Saddam Haftar ‘impossible’ as US-backed merger plan breaks down Western Libya’s GNU say working with Saddam Haftar ‘impossible’ as US-backed merger plan breaks down Allegations that the son of the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar oversaw a “terror cell” that launched drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have upended plans for the Tripoli-based government of national unity (GNU) to continue cooperating with Haftar on a plan to unify the country.
- It was thought the whole group involved five Spaniards and four Libyans.