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1 1 (September 2, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govehgk0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Updated September 2,2021 Libya and U.S. Policy Ten years after the start of a 2011 uprising that toppled long-time authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacy have produced a series ofinterimgovernments (Figure 1),butmilitias, local leaders, and coalitions ofnationalfigures backed by competing foreignpatrons have remained the most powerful arbiters of public affairs. Conflictre-erupted in Libya in April2019, when a coalition of armed groups led by Qadhafi-era military defector Khalifa Haftar known as the Liby an National 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 Forumand members of Libya's HouseofRepresentatives (HOW, interim parliament last elected in 2014) approved an interim executive authority and interimGovernment of National Unity (GNU) to replace the GNA in March 2021. The U.N. Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is facilitating discussions among LPDF members, the HOR, and the High Council of State (HCS, an advisory representative body) to establish a constitutional basis and law for parliamentary and presidential elections planned for December 24, 2021. U.S. officials continue to callforan end to foreign interference in Libya and for holding the elections as scheduled. .. i t U.N. Endorses Ceasefire Monitordng In October 2020, U.N.-backed talks among members of a Joint Military Commission (JMC, or5+5 because ofits equalmake-up of GNA/LNA delegates) established a temporary ceasefire. The agreement called for the departure of mercenaries and foreign fighters along with the suspension of foreign training andthe departure of trainers. The ceasefire has held through August 2021, although foreign forces have not departed. In April2021, the U.N. Security Council endorsed Resolution 2570, approving the scalable and incremental deployment' ofceasefire monitors and strongly urging member states torespectand support the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries fromLibya without delay. Preparations for the monitoring mis sion are ongoing. In July 2021, UNSMIL head Jin Kubis observed that, the situation in Libya is becoming more difficult, confrontational and tense. Institutional, political and individualinterests standin the way of agreeing on the necessary legal framework for holding the elections on 24 December, as agreed in the LPDFroad map, endorsed by the Security Council. He further warned that, Theunity of the Joint Military Commis sion and the implementation of the agreement couldunravelif the politicalprocess remains stalled, and said, The continued presence of foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters also threatens the ceasefire. In August 2021, he said, time is running out. 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 date for December 2021 election. Source: Prepared by CRS using media and social media reporting.

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