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1 1 (May 28, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govedlz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated May 28, 2021 Libya and U.S. Policy Ten years after the start of a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacyhave produced a series of interimgovernments (Figure 1),butmilitias, local leaders, and coalitions ofnationalfigures backed by competing foreignpatrons have remained the most powerful arbiters of public affairs. Conflict re-erupted in Libya in April2019, when a coalition of armed groups led by Qadhafi-era military defector Khalifa Haftar known as the Liby anNational Army movement (LNA, in Arabic: Libyan Arab Armed Forces, LAAF) leveraged support fromRus sia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Egypt to attempt to seize the capital, Tripoli, from an interim Government of National Accord (GNA) and localmilitias. With Turkish military support, the GNA and western Libyan militias forced the LNA to withdraw. Libya has remained divided since, with foreign forces remaining present and the main opposing coalitions separatedby a line ofcontrol west of Sirte (Figure 1). During 2020, multilateral diplomatic initiatives helped achieve a ceasefire, and in April2021, the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council endorsed plans to deploy civilian ceasefire monitoring personnel at Libyans' request. Delegates to a U.N.-convened Libyan Political Dialogue Forum(LPDF) and members of Libya's House of Representatives (HOR, interim parliament last elected in 2014) have approved an interimexecutive authority and interim Government of National Unity (GNU). The U.N. Support Missionin Libya (UNSMIL) is facilitating discussions among LPDF members, the HOR, and the High CouncilofState (HCS, an advisory representativebody) to establish a constitutionalbasis andlaw forparliamentary and presidential elections planned for December 24, 2021 (the seventieth anniversary of Liby an independence). U.S. officials continueto callfor an end to foreign interference in Libya and forholding the elections as scheduled. U.N. Endorses Ceasefire Monitoring In October 2020, U.N.-backed talks among members of a Joint Military Commission (JMC, or5+5 because ofits equal make-up of GNA/LNA delegates) established a temporary ceasefire. The agreement called for the departure of mercenaries andforeignfighters along with the suspension of foreign training and the departure of trainers. The ceasefire has held through May 2021, although foreign forces havenotdeparted. In April2021, the U.N. Security Council endorsed Resolution 2570, approvingthe scalable and incrementaldeployment ofceasefire monitors and strongly urging member states torespect and support the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries fromLibya without delay. U.N. officials plan initially to deploy five unarmed monitors to Tripoli. On May 21, UNSMIL head Jin Kubis said, progress on key issues suchas the reopeningofthe coastalroad between Sirte and Misrata and the start of the withdrawalof foreign mercenaries, fighters and foreign forces has stalled. ...UNSMIL continues to receive reports of setting up of fortifications and defensive positions along the Sirte-Jufra axis and South Libya, air force training activities, cargoes of arms and military supplies into West, East, and South Libyan military bases; as well as the continuing presenceof foreign elements, mercenaries and assets, thus entrenching the division of Libya. Figure I. Libya: Areas of Influence 2011 Uprising topples Muammar al Qadhafi. 2012 Parliamentary elections. Transitional cabinet seated. 2014 Constitutional referendum and parliamentary elections. Disputed results fuel conflict. U.S. diplomats depart. 2015 International mediation yields agreement to form Government of National Accord (GNA). 2016 Parliament withholds endorsement of GNA Islamic State forces defeated in Sirte with U.S. military support. 2018 Libyan National Army consolidates control in east Libya. 2019 Libyan National Army launches offensive against Tripoli. 2020 U.N. supports ceasefire negotiations, selects Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) members. LPDF agrees to roadmap, plans December 2021 elections. 2021 LPDF selects Interim Executive Authority members. HOR approves interim Government of National Unity cabinet. U.N. Security Council endorses ceasefire monitoring and datefor December 2021 election. Source: Prepared by CRS usingmedia and social media reporting. https://crs reports.congress.goo

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