Libyan rivals descend on Washington
The war-wracked country’s competing factions are fighting for Donald Trump’s ear.
Libya’s chaotic politics will play out in Washington this week as some of the war-wracked nation’s top rivals scramble for the Donald Trump administration’s attention.
Current and former government leaders assemble May 10 for a Capitol Hill conference on Libya-US relations and investment opportunities. Meanwhile, UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and his main rival, anti-Islamist strongman Khalifa Hifter, are both hoping to meet with Washington officials as early as this month following their May 2 deal to hold elections next year.
The Libyans’ goals, former US envoy Jonathan Winer told Al-Monitor, are “pretty straightforward.”
“Everybody in Libya who’s got a position wants to maintain their position and increase the power and authority of that position without having to give anything up,” he said. “That’s a zero-sum game and it doesn’t work, but it doesn’t stop people from trying.”
