France in Search of a Foothold in Post-Gaddafi Libya

Historically, Libya was not part of the French sphere of interest and influence, the core of which was traditionally Francophone Africa. Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, security issues in the countries of the Sahara - Sahel region have become particularly important for France. The article is preceded by a brief historical account of Franco-Libyan relations up to and after the fall of the Gaddafi regime, when the situation within and along the Libyan borders deteriorated and became a matter of growing concern in France and internationally. The relevance and novelty of this study lie the examination of the French attitude towards the Libyan crisis in close conjunction with the need for forceful counter-terrorism actions and security measures in the Sahelю The aim is to analyse the evolving situation in the region, identifying the motivation for and the nature of France's actions in and around Libya, as well as in the context of a future post-conflict settlement. In writing the article, the author relied on historical-genetic and historical-analytical methods, drawing on national and international monographs, articles published in academic periodicals, and official documents of international organisations. He concludes that France had limited resources and capacity to stabilise Libya. He argues that the involuntary reliance on Khalifa Haftar as a fulcrum for security in southern Libya, the border areas, and for reducing the projection of the terrorist threat into the Sahara-Sahel region was unwarranted. It is also demonstrated that France has critically underestimated the potential of other influential parties to the current Libyan crisis, which, in the circumstances, has reduced its ability to influence the intra-Libyan and regional balance of power.

Keywords

France, Libya, foreign policy, international relations, international conflicts, Sahel, security, Khalifa Haftar, jihadism, terrorism

Received

11.02.2022

Publication date

13.05.2022

Number of characters

35146

Cite

GOST	Sidorov A. France in Search of a Foothold in Post-Gaddafi Libya // Novaia i noveishaia istoriia – 2022. – Issue 2 C. 132-144 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://nni.jes.su/S013038640018568-2-1 (circulation date: 05.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013038640018568-2
MLA	Sidorov, Alexandre "France in Search of a Foothold in Post-Gaddafi Libya." Novaia i noveishaia istoriia 2 (2022):132-144. DOI: 10.31857/S013038640018568-2
APA	Sidorov A. (2022). France in Search of a Foothold in Post-Gaddafi Libya. Novaia i noveishaia istoriia (2), pp.132-144 DOI: 10.31857/S013038640018568-2

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 2, views: 292

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Egorin A.Z. Istoriya Livii. XX vek. M., 1999.

2. Egorin A.Z. Arabskij Vostok v bor'be za obnovlenie (Liviya, Egipet, Siriya). Khronika sobytij, 2012–2013 gg. Kazan', 2015.

3. Zvereva T.V. Vneshnyaya politika sovremennoj Frantsii. M., 2014.

4. Lisenkov K.A., Polyakova T.V., Sidorov A.S. Otsenka sootnosheniya sil uchastnikov regional'nogo konflikta (na primere situatsii v Chade) // Regional'nye i lokal'nye konflikty: genezis, uregulirovanie i prognozirovanie / pod red. A.V. Torkunova. M., 1988.

5. Malashenko A.V. Revolyutsii v Tunise, Egipte i Livii // Rossiya i musul'manskij mir. 2011. № 7. S. 143–149.

6. Mokhova I.M., Mokhov N.V. Reaktsiya Frantsii na «arabskuyu vesnu»: starye orientiry novoj vneshnej politiki // Aktual'nye problemy Evropy. 2012. № 3. S. 92–105.

7. Pokudov Z.V., Sadykova Eh.L. Analiz regionalizatsii voenno-politicheskikh interesov SShA i ES na primere interventsii v Liviyu v 2011 godu // Novaya i novejshaya istoriya. 2021. № 1. S. 159–168.

8. Predvaritel'nyj otchet zasedaniya Soveta Bezopasnosti OON. 13 maya 2013 goda // URL: https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol-ru/S/PV.6965 (data obrascheniya: 30.07.2021).

9. Rezolyutsiya 1973 (2011), prinyataya Sovetom Bezopasnosti na ego 6498-m zasedanii 17 marta 2011 goda. S/RES/1973 (2011) // URL: https://undocs.org/ru/S/RES/1973 (2011) (data obrascheniya: 30.07.2021).

10. Sarab'ev A.V. Global'noe zvuchanie variantov nezavisimosti Livii: 1937 god // Novaya i novejshaya istoriya. 2021. № 3. S. 144–158.

11. Sidorov A.S. Afrikanskaya arkhitektura mira i bezopasnosti i konflikt v Sakhele // Rossiya i sovremennyj mir. 2020. № 3. S. 175–190.

12. Egorin A.Z. Istoriya Livii. XX vek [History of Libya. 20th century]. Moskva, 1999. (In Russ.)

13. Egorin A.Z. Arabskiy Vostok v bor'be za obnovleniye (Liviya, Yegipet, Siriya). Khronika sobytiy, 2012–2013 gg. [Arab East in the struggle for renewal (Libya, Egypt, Syria). Chronicle of events, 2012–2013]. Kazan', 2015. (In Russ.)

14. Lisenkov K.A., Polyakova T.V., Sidorov A.S. Otsenka sootnosheniya sil uchastnikov regional'nogo konflikta (na primere situatsii v Chade) [Assessment of the balance of forces of participants in a regional conflict (on the example of the situation in Chad)] // Regional'nyye i lokal'nyye konflikty: genezis, uregulirovaniye i prognozirovaniye / pod red. A.V. Torkunova [Regional and local conflicts: genesis, settlement and forecasting / ed. A.V. Torkunov]. Moskva, 1988. (In Russ.)

15. Malashenko A.V. Revolyutsii v Tunise, Yegipte i Livii [Revolutions in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya] // Rossiya i musul'manskiy mir [Russia and muslim world]. 2011. № 7. S. 143–149. (In Russ.)

16. Mokhova I.M., Mokhov N.V. Reaktsiya Frantsii na “arabskuyu vesnu”: Staryye oriyentiry novoy vneshney politiki [France's Reaction to the “Arab Spring”: Old Landmarks of the New Foreign Policy] // Aktual'nyye problemy Yevropy [Current Problems of Europe]. 2012. № 3. S. 92–105. (In Russ.)

17. Pokudov Z.V., Sadykova E.L. Analiz regionalizatsii voyenno-politicheskikh interesov SShA i YES na primere interventsii v Liviyu v 2011 godu [Analysis of the regionalization of the military-political interests of the USA and the EU on the example of the intervention in Libya in 2011] // Novaya i noveyshaya istoriya [Modern and Contemporary History]. 2021. № 1. S. 159–168. (In Russ.)

18. Predvaritel'nyj otchet zasedanija Soveta Bezopasnosti OON [Preliminary Report of the Meeting of the UN Security Council]. May 13, 2013 // URL: https://undocs.org/pdf?symbol-ru/S/PV.6965 (access date: 30.07.2021). (In Russ.)

19. Rezoljucija 1973 (2011), prinjataja Sovetom Bezopasnosti na ego 6498-m zasedanii 17 marta 2011 goda [Resolution 1973 (2011) Adopted by the Security Council at its 6498th meeting, on 17 March 2011]. S/RES/1973 (2011) // URL: https://undocs.org/ru/S/RES/1973 (2011) (access date: 30.07.2021). (In Russ.)

20. Sarab'ev A.V. Global'noe zvuchanie variantov nezavisimosti Livii: 1937 god [The global sound of options for the independence of Libya: 1937] // Novaya i novejshaya istoriya [Modern and Contemporary History]. 2021. № 3. S. 144–158. (In Russ.)

21. Sidorov A.S. Afrikanskaya arkhitektura mira i bezopasnosti i konflikt v Sakhele [African architecture of peace and security and the conflict in the Sahel] // Rossiya i sovremennyy mir [Russia and the Modern World]. 2020. № 3. S. 175–190. (In Russ.)

22. Zvereva T.V. Vneshnyaya politika sovremennoy Frantsii [Foreign policy of modern France]. Moskva, 2014. (In Russ.)

23. Actualisation stratégique 2021. Paris, Ministère des armées. 10.02.2021. P. 24 // URL: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/dgris/presentation/evenements/actualisation-strategique-2021 (access date: 30.07.2021).

24. Bachir M. “La France, notre premier ennemi”, selon l’émir du Sahel Iyad ag-Ghali // The Middle East Eye. 13.VIII.2018. URL: https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/reportages/la-france-notre-premier-ennemi-selon-lemir-du-sahel-iyad-ag-ghali (access date: 30.07.2021).

25. Berghezan G. Turquie: une empreinte militaire de plus en plus pesante à l’extérieur // Note d’Analyse. Bruxelles: Groupe de recherche et d’information sur la paix et la sécurité (GRIP). 21.I.2021. P. 8–10. URL: https://grip.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NA_2021-01-21_FR_GB-Turquie-partie1.pdf (access date: 30.07.2021).

26. Bloch M. Emmanuel Macron critique de nouveau l'intervention en Libye de Nicolas Sarkozy // Le Journal du Dimanche. 02.II.2018. URL: https://www.lejdd.fr/Politique/emmanuel-macron-critique-de-nouveau-lintervention-en-libye-de-nicolas-sarkozy-3563429 (access date: 30.07.2021).

27. Châtaigner J.-M. La stabilisation du Sahel, nouveau rocher de Sisyphe? // Politique étrangère. 2020. № 3. P. 77–88.

28. Chesnot Chr. Libye: une réunification à petits pas // France-Culture. 14.III.2021. URL: https://www.franceculture.fr/geopolitique/libye-une-reunification-a-petits-pas (access date: 30.07.2021).

29. Conflict Barometer 2020. Heidelberg, 2021 // URL: https://hiik.de/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/ConflictBarometer_2020_1.pdf (access date: 30.07.2021).

30. Daguzan J.-F. Décomposition et recomposition du monde arabe après les révolutions // Revue Défense Nationale. 2015. Avril. № 779. P. 63–68.

31. Daguzan J.-F. La France et l’UE en Méditerranée: entre esprit de système et réalités // Politique étrangère. 2020. № 4. P. 109–120.

32. Déclaration conjointe. Libye – Rencontres de la Celle-Saint-Cloud. 26 juillet 2017 // URL: https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2017/07/26/libye-rencontres-de-la-celle-saint-cloud (access date: 30.07.2021).

33. Decroix Chr., Daclin C. Mort d'Idriss Déby: une perte stratégique pour la France // Radio Télé Luxembourg (RTL). 21.IV.2021. URL: https://www.rtl.fr/actu/international/mort-d-idriss-deby-une-perte-strategique-pour-la-france-7900022648 (access date: 30.07.2021).

34. Freedman L. Les guerres de la prochaine décennie // Politique étrangère. 2019. № 1. R. 95–106.

35. Gaulme F. Conflits d’Afrique subsaharienne: l’éternel retour? // Politique étrangère. 2018. № 3. R. 39–50.

36. Gillon J. France-Libye: le maréchal Haftar, l’ami controversé de l’Élysée // Jeune Afrique. 18.III.2020. URL: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/mag/909987/politique/le-marechal-haftar-lami-libyen-controverse-de-lelysee/ (access date: 30.07.2021).

37. Hanne O., Larobi G. Jihâd au Sahel: Menaces, opération Barkhane, coopération régionale. Paris, 2015.

38. Harchaoui J. How France is making Libya worse: Macron is Strengthening Haftar // Foreign Affairs. 21.IX.2017. URL: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/france/2017-09-21/how-france-making-libya-worse (access date: 30.07.2021).

39. Harchaoui J. La Libye depuis 2015: entre morcellement et interférence // Politique étrangère. 2018. № 4. R. 133–145.

40. Holland F. Les leçons du pouvoir. Paris, 2018.

41. Hugeux V. Tyrans d’Afrique. Paris, 2021.

42. Kebbi J. Pourquoi Macron critique l’intervention occidentale en Libye // L’Orient-Le Jour. 3.II.2018. URL: https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1098170/pourquoi-macron-critique-lintervention-occidentale-en-libye.html (access date: 30.07.2021).

43. Keenan J. Mali: un accord de paix qui aggrave les conflits // The Middle East Eye. 23.IX.2015. URL: https://www.middleeasteye.net/node/44116 (access date: 30.07.2021).

44. Kepel G. Away from chaos // Émile Magazine. 01.VII.2020. URL: https://www.emilemagazine.fr/article/2020/6/30/gilles-kepel-away-from-chaos (access date: 23.12.2021).

45. Kepel G. Jihad. Expansion et déclin de l’islamisme. Paris, 2000.

46. La démocratie en Afrique: tours et détours. Editorial // Politique étrangère. 2019. № 2. P. 5–8.

47. La France doit restaurer sa crédibilité pour espérer reprendre pied en Libye // URL: https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20210601-emmanuel-macron-re%C3%A7oit-le-chef-du-gouvernement-libyen-et-lui-apporte-son-plein-soutien (access date: 30.07.2021).

48. Le Drian: le sud de la Libye “est devenu un hub terroriste” // Le Point. 28.XII.2014. URL: https://www.lepoint.fr/monde/le-drian-le-sud-de-la-libye-est-devenu-un-hub-terroriste-28-12-2014-1892679_24.php (access date: 30.07.2021).

49. Libya: Examination of intervention and collapse and the UK’s future policy options. House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Third Report of Session 2016–17 // URL: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmfaff/119/119.pdf (access date: 30.07.2021).

50. Libye: à Berlin, les participants appellent au retrait “sans délai” des mercenaires // Jeune Afrique. 24.07.2021. URL: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1193299/politique/libye-a-berlin-les-participants-appellent-au-retrait-sans-delai-des-mercenaires/ (access date: 30.07.2021).

51. Lounnas Dj. Le djihadisme au Sahel après la chute de Daech // Politique étrangère. 2019. № 2. P. 105–114.

52. Pérouse de Monclos M.-A. L’Afrique, nouvelle frontière du djihad? Paris, 2018.

53. Point presse du Président de la République à l’issue du Conseil européen. 25 mars 2021 // URL: https://www.elysee.fr/front/pdf/elysee-module-17426-fr.pdf (access date: 30.07.2021).

54. Poletti A. Libye: comment le «silence complice» de la France permet à Khalifa Haftar de peser diplomatiquement // Jeune Afrique. 19.IV.2019. URL: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/765220/politique/libye-comment-le-silence-complice-de-la-france-permet-a-khalifa-haftar-de-peser-diplomatiquement/ (access date: 30.07.2021).

55. Pondi J.-E. La coopération franco-africaine vue d'Afrique // Revue internationale et stratégique. 2002. Vol. 45. Iss. 1. Printemps. R. 127–136.

56. President Obama Admits the 'Worst Mistake' of His Presidency // Time. 11.IV.2016. URL: https://time.com/4288634/president-obama-worst-mistake/ (access date: 30.07.2021).

57. Vernhes S. Libye: Haftar va-t-il à nouveau faire dérailler la transition? // Jeune Afrique. 15.VI.2021. URL: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1188242/politique/libye-haftar-va-t-il-a-nouveau-faire-derailler-la-transition/ (access date: 30.07.2021).

58. Vernhes S. Libye: Vinci, Total, Sanofi… Le marché de la reconstruction aiguise l’appétit des entreprises françaises // Jeune Afrique. 6.VI.2021. URL: https://www.jeuneafrique.com/1183245/politique/libye-le-marche-de-la-reconstruction-aiguise-lappetit-des-entreprises-francaises/ (access date: 30.07.2021).