Key JudgementsAFRICOM’s mission in North Africa is to limit the instability caused by the second Libyan Civil War. AFRICOM, and by extension, the United States, has a de-facto neutrality policy regarding the second Libyan Civil War. AFRICOM’s Mission in North AfricaAFRICOM itself describes its mission in North Africa as one of containing the spread of instability originating from Libya. The official U.S. version of the story leaves the exact country in North Africa unnamed for “classification considerations, force protection, and diplomatic sensitivities.”The Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed drone base and the 2017 firefight exemplify the significant AFRICOM presence in North Africa and highlight how AFRICOM approaches its mission, preserving regional stability and building capability and resilience in North African countries. Thus, U.S. entry into the Libyan Civil War would offer several drawbacks with only a few advantages.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 06, 2020 14:03 UTC