Libya

Background reviewed 2026-10-23 · Background as of 2026-10

Background

Libya has been divided since shortly after the 2011 uprising that ended Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. Rival authorities emerged in the west and east in 2014. An offensive on Tripoli by forces led by Khalifa Haftar in 2019–2020 ended in a ceasefire in October 2020.

Since then, large-scale war has not resumed, but armed groups compete for influence, especially in Tripoli, where heavy fighting broke out in May 2025 and again in October 2026. National elections planned for December 2021 have not taken place.

History

Libya became independent in 1951 as a monarchy. Muammar Gaddafi took power in a 1969 coup and ruled for 42 years. In 2011, an uprising supported by a NATO-led air campaign under a UN Security Council mandate ended his rule.

Elections in 2012 and 2014 did not produce a stable government, and the country split between rival authorities in Tripoli and the east, where Khalifa Haftar’s forces became dominant. Haftar’s 2019–2020 offensive on Tripoli drew in foreign backers on both sides before a UN-facilitated ceasefire in October 2020. Planned national elections in December 2021 were postponed, and the division between east and west continues.

Main parties

Government of National Unity (GNU) — Based in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah.
Libyan National Army (LNA) — Eastern-based forces led by Khalifa Haftar, aligned with a rival government.
Armed groups in Tripoli and the west — Many are formally linked to state institutions.

Key dates

2011-02-17 — An uprising begins against Muammar Gaddafi.
2011-10-20 — Gaddafi is killed.
2014 — Libya splits between rival governments in the west and east.
2019-04-04 — Haftar’s forces launch an offensive on Tripoli.
2020-10-23 — A permanent ceasefire agreement is signed in Geneva.
2023-09-10 — Storm Daniel causes two dams to collapse above the city of Derna, causing catastrophic flooding.
2025-05 — Heavy fighting breaks out between armed groups in Tripoli.
2026-10 — Renewed fighting is reported in Tripoli.

Humanitarian situation

Libya is a major transit country for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe, many of whom face detention and abuse. The country also hosts large numbers of refugees from the war in Sudan.

How to read reports about Libya

Armed groups often change alliances and names; we use the names given in the linked reports.

Recent events

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