Regional powers fighting proxy war in Libya
The world’s major powers are doing little to stop rival regional blocs from exacerbating the violence in Libya, despite having several UN Security Council resolutions at their disposal to help them do so.
The talks sponsored by the United Nations between Libya’s warring factions scheduled for Jan. 5 were postponed. This new delay follows previous, repeatedly postponed attempts resulting from a lack of consensus on the agenda and who should take part in the talks. Meanwhile, events on the ground continue to change by the day, making it increasingly more difficult to reach agreement on certain details and technicalities.
Over the last four weeks, fighting has taken a serious turn, as Libya Dawn, a collation of Islamists and fighters from Misrata, attacked the biggest oil exporting terminal at Sidra, east of Sirte, setting at least five oil tanks ablaze and burning nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil, costing the country an estimated $1 billion.
On the other hand, the Libyan army, led by the recently reinstated Gen. Khalifa Hifter, retaliated with airstrikes, targeting logistical and militia targets in Misrata itself for the first time. This development sends a clear message to Libya Dawn leaders and Misrata militias that their hometown is not immune.
Since the recent violence erupted last July, hundreds of civilians have been killed and thousands more displaced. A UN report released Dec. 23 documents at least 450 deaths in Benghazi alone, while highlighting the broader destruction visited across the country by the warring groups. If anything, this indicates how difficult and complicated the task is for Bernardino Leon, head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). The Spanish diplomat has visited Tripoli and Tobruk numerous times in his effort to get the two governments to agree on a dialogue to bring about a political settlement to Libya's escalating crisis.
