Libya

Libya

With its proximity to Europe, its significant oil reserves, and its strategic importance to the stability of the North Africa region, the ongoing turmoil in Libya is a concern for the United States and its allies. Rival factions serving as proxies to competing regional powers continue to destabilize the country and hamper any national dialogue efforts. The role of the United States and Europe will be essential in encouraging dialogue, supporting the arms embargo, and contributing to any post-war economic revitalization plan.

Featured commentary & analysis

Duclos quoted in Globe Post on French Policy in Libya

MENASource
Jul 1, 2026

Libya doesn’t need another elite bargain

By
Karim Mezran

The US blessing of a power-sharing arrangement for Libya preserves a fragile stability today while increasing the risk of a much larger crisis tomorrow.

Libya
Political Reform

Duclos quoted in Globe Post on French Policy in Libya

MENASource
May 26, 2026

An oil windfall will not fix Libya’s economy

By
Ahmed Shalghoum and Frank Talbot

Libya’s new unified budget needs transparency, accountability, and oversight to deliver for the people.

Economy & Business
Libya

Duclos quoted in Globe Post on French Policy in Libya

MENASource
May 15, 2026

The problem with the US power-sharing plan for Libya

By
Karim Mezran, Dario Cristiani

The nascent US initiative may succeed in reducing tensions and creating a slightly more predictable environment for foreign businesses, but a structural transformation remains out of reach.

Corruption
Libya

Programs

Perspectives on North Africa

The North Africa Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East analyzes the strategic, political, and economic importance of the region for the United States and its allies. Since the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, North Africa has undergone political and economic transformations that have impacted stability and security in the region. With its geographic crossroad between Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, North Africa continues to be an integral partner in addressing shared interests and concerns.

Learn more about the Middle East programs

Middle East Programs

Working with our allies and partners in Europe and the wider Middle East to protect US interests, build peace and security, and unlock the human potential of the region.

EXPLORE THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL’S MIDDLE EAST PROGRAMS

Content

In the News

Apr 24, 2019

Duclos quoted in Globe Post on French Policy in Libya

By Michel Duclos

Read the full article here

Libya

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2019

Trump wades into Libyan crisis, and why that’s not good news

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Trump's phone call with Haftar undercuts previous US positions.

Libya

In the News

Apr 18, 2019

El-Gamal Joins TRT World to Discuss Haftar’s Tripoli Offensive

By Jasmine El- Gamal

Watch the full discussion here

Libya

In the News

Apr 17, 2019

Mezran Quoted in The Times on the Dangers to Europe from General Haftar’s Offensive

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here

Libya

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2019

Libyan conflict could worsen migrant plight, European commissioner warns

By David A. Wemer

Europe cannot keep its head in the sand while people suffer, Dimitirs Avramopoulos says.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Apr 7, 2019

Mezran Quoted in World News Monitor on the Current Situation in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read the full article here

Libya

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2019

Libya: Back on the brink of a civil war?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Khalifa Haftar orders his troops to mark on Tripoli.

Conflict Libya

MENASource

Feb 22, 2019

General Haftar’s offensive in the Fezzan region and the Italian-French competition

By Karim Mezran

The military forces under the command of General Khalifa Haftar launched a large-scale attack on the Fezzan region in January, with the aim of taking control of the main areas of local oil production.

Libya

MENASource

Jan 10, 2019

Exploiting the achievements of the Libyan political agreement

By Karim Mezran and Wolfgang Pusztai

The conference on Libya held in Palermo, Italy last November saw neither the rising of a new dawn in terms of security and political consensus nor the development of a strong agreement around a well-defined plan.

Libya

MENASource

Nov 14, 2018

The United States should not get involved in Libya’s civil war

By Hafed Al-Ghwell

An unmistakable sense of despair and gloom accompanies most news reports and literature on the state of affairs in Libya after 2011. The Arab Spring was meant to usher in a period of unprecedented change after decades of notoriously undemocratic leadership across the Middle East and North Africa. Yet, seven years later, there has been very little positive development in terms of transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in the Arab world.

Libya
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Experts

Fellow

Brian O’Toole

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Cuba Economy & Business

Fellow

Frank Talbot

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Economy & Business English