Libya and interests of Russia

Occupation: President Emeritus of IAS RAS
Affiliation:
Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (IAS RAS)
Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Address: Moscow, 30/1, Spiridonovka Str., Moscow, 123001, Russian Federation

Leonid M. Issaev

Occupation: Associate Professor, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Research Fellow, Saint Petersburg State University; Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Affiliation:
National Research University Higher School of Economics
Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation

Aleksandr A. Tkachenko

Occupation: Head, Center of North Africa and African Horn Studies, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Vladimir Yu Kukushkin

Occupation: Senior Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Natalia Zherlitsyna

Occupation: Senior Research Fellow, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 6

Pages

4-13

Abstract

Currently, there are two opposing “governments” in Libya: the Faiz Saraj’s Government of National Accord in Tripoli, recognized by the international community, and the cabinet of ministers in the east of the country, which is supported by the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar and relies on the “legitimate” parliament - the House Representatives.

So far, attempts by the parties to come to a settlement within the framework of a political agreement have not yielded results. Meanwhile, it was the civil war and the difficult social and economic conditions associated with it, the collapse of state administration, the inaction of laws, the flourishing of violence that are key factors in the presence of radical jihadist groups in Libya. In April 2019, Haftar announced the start of an offensive on Tripoli. The offensive soon lost momentum, as forces in western Libya associated with the Government of National Accord joined forces to prevent the advance of Haftar’s troops. This event is noteworthy not only because Haftar failed to overcome the resistance of the forces of the Government of National Accord, but also because the more tangible the prospect of the capture of the capital by the Libyan national army became, the fewer allies remained within Libya itself.

Despite the intricacies of the Libyan civil conflict, a more or less stable system of checks and balances has developed within the country, which does not allow any of the forces to occupy a dominant position in the military-political system of Libya. The situation is still stalemate.

Keywords

Libya, Qaddafi, civil war, Arab Spring, Russia

Publication date

27.06.2020

Number of characters

41306

Cite

GOST	Vasiliev A., Issaev L., Tkachenko A., Kukushkin V., Zherlitsyna N. Libya and interests of Russia // Asia and Africa Today – 2020. – Issue 6 C. 4-13 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750009872-1-1 (circulation date: 21.01.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009872-1
MLA	Vasiliev, Aleksei M, Issaev, Leonid M, Tkachenko, Aleksandr A., Kukushkin, Vladimir Yu, Zherlitsyna, Natalia "Libya and interests of Russia." Asia and Africa Today 6 (2020):4-13. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009872-1
APA	Vasiliev A., Issaev L., Tkachenko A., Kukushkin V., Zherlitsyna N. (2020). Libya and interests of Russia. Asia and Africa Today (6), pp.4-13 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009872-1

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