Recent reports indicate that a climate of instability and high tensions prevails in Southern Libya, due to the presence of numerous armed groups and the absence of state control in the area. To address the situation, the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) General Haftar announced on 19 October the launch of the Operation “Hawd Murzuq”, a joint task force operation to remove Sudanese, Chadian and local insurgent groups responsible for kidnapping and robbing in the Central, Sabha, Brak, Ubari-Ghat, and Murzuk-Kufra regions. The task force consists of the LNA’s 10 Infantry Brigade, the 181, 177 and 116 Infantry Battalions, and the Subul al-Salam Battalion. On 19 October, UNSMIL released a statement deploring the dire security situation in southern Libya and called upon Libyan authorities to take action against the lawlessness that has plagued the region. In its statement, UNSMIL condemned foreign armed groups’ violations and encouraged regional actors to support Libyan authorities in addressing the issue. The escalating crisis in southern Libya is likely to renew a political race between the LNA and the GNA to gain local alliances, especially with the Arab tribes, in their fight against what many call the ‘Chadian Invasion’ of southern Libya. However, this is likely to echo the competing efforts in March of this year when they both made token gestures to resolve the conflict — the GNA released a series of statements and formed committees without physical contributions, while the LNA provided armed forces for an interim offensive without undertaking reconciliation or governance activities.
Southern Libya: Security Outlook