Libya

THE NEW LIBYA: PLUS ÇA CHANGE? The most recent political developments in Libya strongly support the sense that the country is quickly moving from one autocracy to another one. The only question is whether it will be theocratic, regional-ethnic or

Read the rest of THE NEW LIBYA: PLUS ÇA CHANGE? — By Edward Kannyo »

In today’s Libya, local is king.  Yet, if the country is to become a functioning state governed by an elected leadership capable of empowering its citizens and providing an equitable distribution of its resource wealth, then, the interim government of

Read the rest of Libya: NTC must assert itself and consign federalism to the dustbin of history – By Jason Pack »

The current situation in Libya can be best characterized as a struggle pitting the ‘centre’ that controls national institutions, the flow of oil, and billions in unfrozen assets against a marginalized ‘periphery’ that can challenge the centre’s legitimacy via its

Read the rest of Libya: NTC must exercise authority and tackle militias – By Jason Pack »

Whatever one may think of the AU’s position on Libya, it has been perceived as at odds with the international consensus articulated in the implementation of Resolution 1973 authorising Nato intervention in the country. As the conflict escalated, the AU

Read the rest of The African Union and Libya, on the horns of a dilemma – By Thomas Alberts »

The killing of Moammar Gaddafi at the hands of his enemies, with NATO military assistance, on October 20th, marks a major landmark in the country’s ongoing strife. Whether these events lead to peace and stability or persistent violence is a

Read the rest of Libya After Gadaffi: 3 Scenarios – By Edward Kannyo »

I figured getting to Tripoli for another quick research trip would be significantly easier than the time I went to visit the Iraqi archives in late 2003.  This time around, I thought it would be very unlikely that I would

Read the rest of Crossing into Libya – Jason Pack survives border bureaucracy and sustainable development consultants »

It may be safer when discussing the impact and consequences of the ‘Arab spring’ in northern Africa to quote Mao Zhe Dong when asked to comment on either Paris 1789 or Paris 1968, ‘too early to say.’ However, the question

Read the rest of Sub Saharan mercenaries or African freedom fighters in Libya and the return of Dr Khalil Ibrahim – By Pieter Tesch »

Until last week, Niger’s main pre-occupation was the consolidation of democracy following peaceful elections in February. President Mahamadou Issoufou was determinedly continuing with an energetic anti-corruption drive in the face of an alleged coup plot back in July. This was

Read the rest of ‘We have no means to close the border… It is too big’: Niger and Gadaffi – fallout out from the Libyan crisis – By Celeste Hicks »

So why didn’t NATO planes bomb the armed convoy that headed from Libya into Niger on Tuesday? Two possible answers: One it was part of a withdrawal deal that NATO knew about. Two that they suspected the Gaddafi was in

Read the rest of The longer term for Libya’s neighbours – By Richard Dowden »

In the early days following the rise of the insurgency in Libya, it was widely reported that Col. Gaddafi was making an extensive use of foreign mercenaries to defend his regime. Tuaregs from Mali and Niger, and, more specifically, ex-rebels,

Read the rest of ‘Whether you liked him or not, Gadaffi used to fix a lot of holes’ – Tuareg insurgencies in Mali and Niger and the war in Libya – By Frédéric Deycard and Yvan Guichaoua »