A Fratricidal Libya and its Second Civil War- Harvesting Decades of Qaddafi’s ‘Divide and Rule’

This study explores the development of Libya's security situation following the so-called Arab spring in 2011 up to September 2015. It provides an overview of Libya's main warring parties and the struggles they are engaged in. The analysis covers both domestic groups and the main external states. The study finds that the security dynamics are changing quickly and that Libya has many political hurdles and security challenges to overcome before a more durable situation of stability can be achieved. Two findings are clear: first, Libya's conflict needs to be seen in the context of the wider regional power struggle in which foreign actors (states and groups alike) have interests in shaping Libya's future; and, second, that Libya cannot deal with its security challenges alone without comprehensive outside political and military support by the United Nations and other regional organisations.