Stephanie Williams, the former UN envoy to Libya, claimed in a recent article that the Haftar family is consolidating its grip on power in eastern Libya. Struggle for control in the westWilliams warned of continuing struggles for dominance among various militias in western Libya, noting deadly clashes in Tripoli last summer between the Deterrence Force and Brigade 444, which killed dozens. She explained that “the hybrid armed group environment in western Libya remains highly fragmented.” Armed groups in Tripoli continue to compete by preying on what remains of the country’s institutions. Dbeibah has channeled billions in patronage to western militias, offering financial and political support through bloated budgets, dodgy contracts and shadow state structures accountable only to him. As her troubled tenure ends, Williams might reflect on how overlooking brazen corruption helped enable the rise of armed groups and rogue actors devastating Libya today.

Source: Libya Today January 18, 2024 11:27 UTC