Libya is on the brink of civil war.
Four years since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya faces political turmoil and
the growing threat of islamic extremists.
The instability has garnered international attention, with countries like Italy and Egypt
wading in to help secure the country.
So what’s happening in Libya?
Last year, the central government was dissolved less than six months after being voted in.
Currently, Libya falls under two rival governments.
The first, is an un-elected islamist party in the nation's capital, Tripoli.
The other is a quasi-elected House of Representatives operating from Tobruk in the East.
In addition to these two governments, two militia groups are competing for dominance.
In Tripoli, the Libyan Dawn Coalition have established partial control.
The group is made up islamic militias and is reportedly financed by Qatar and Turkey.
They are in a head to head battle, with the self-proclaimed, Libyan National Army who
wish to take down all islamic militias.
The Libyan National Army is based in Tobruk and Bayda and is not only backed by the House
of Representatives but also receives funding from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
This complex power struggle between these four groups have resulted in violence, causing
ripples of tension throughout the Gulf region.
But more importantly it has left the entire state vulnerable, especially to jihadist groups
like ISIS.
A recent video released by ISIS shows the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians who were
living in Libya.
Reports suggest that dozens more Egyptians have been captured and it’s suggested that
ISIS is making bold strides into Libya while the state’s security is at an all time low.
Not only that, but it’s been reported that hundreds of smaller Libyan islamic militia
groups are joining with ISIS to bolster their own profiles.
So where does that leave Libya?
Well, so far the rival governments and militias have refused to unite against a common enemy
despite both the Dawn Coalition and the Libyan National Army condemning ISIS.
With no cohesive political structure in place, Libya has turned to its neighbors in the Gulf
region for assistance.
In response, Egypt has launched a series of airstrikes on ISIS targets in Libya.
But even this action has stirred political turmoil.
Because Egypt also backs the Libyan National Army, the strikes have been heavily criticized
by the Dawn Coalition.
While Libya continues to seek political stability post-Gaddafi, the country is extremely vulnerable.
Countries like Italy are now urging the UN to help find a political solution before ISIS’s
power in Libya gets out of control.
If you want to learn more about how Libya got so divided in the first place, check out
our video here.
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