They expose Libya's deep fractures and how little traction Western efforts have gained in stabilizing the oil-producing desert state. The south and west are criss-crossed with smuggler routes, and armed brigades skirmish in turf wars on the streets of Tripoli. Haftar's forces control most of Libya's oil, and cooperate with the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation despite earlier attempts by eastern factions to sell oil independently. Ghwell himself was installed by an Islamist-leaning alliance of former rebels that won control of Tripoli that year from groups aligned with Haftar. LIMITS TO GOVERNMENTBut the limits of GNA control are clear.

Source: Egypt Independent March 02, 2017 08:42 UTC