The war in Libya is about to explode

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The country has been divided since the 2014 elections. In the wake of recent events, the tension is expected to increase

Leer en español: La guerra en Libia está a punto de estallar

Since Gaddafi was overthrown after a "popular uprising with the help of the forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)" according to BBC, the African country has been plunged into chaos. The protests that began in February 2011 against the ruler, who was in power 42, ended with his escape.

However, in October of that same year, the Libyan leader was captured and killed. From that moment, and with a gap in the government, things for Libya worsened even further from 2014.

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The recent bombings

Libya, which has been in tension after the Gaddafi's death, controlled by two opposition governments that are fighting for full control of the African country, has suffered several attacks to achieve it. It deals with the threats Hafta, who controls the east, Fayez al Sarraj, who controls the west, because the first states that he will initiate a military operation to gain control of Tripoli, seat of the opposition and the area that he still needs to conquer.

The first bombings were evident, when several warplanes attacked the international airport of Tripoli. In addition, according to Infobae, "there were reported heavy fighting between the soldiers of the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the troops of the Libyan Nacional Army (LNA) led by Haftar."

For Tarek Megerisi, analyst of the European Council for international relations and in dialogue with El Tiempo, "Haftar is not as strong as he claims, and can not bring stability to Libya," the army under his command "is a fragile alliance between various militias with tribal, religious and local interests around a core of more traditional forces, many of them involved with Salafi elements".

Meanwhile, the UN said that despite what happened, the National Conference on Libya, which purpose was to hold elections "in the southwestern city of Ghadames from 14 to 16 April to consider elections as a way out of the anarchy, which has seen Islamist militants to settle in some areas", according to América Económica, will not be held.

In this way, the United Nations emissary in Libya, Ghassan Salamé, affirmed that "it has been a painful disappointment to listen once more to the drums of war and witness the launching of an offensive that overshadows the political process and the hope of progress and that undermines the confidence required to launch meaningful dialogue". He added that the Conference will be held as soon as possible, but that he can not ask Libyans "to attend a conference in the context of artillery bombings and air strikes", According to DW.

Similarly, the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, made a call to dialogue and affirmed in his Twitter account that he still hopes that "it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in Tripoli and its surroundings".

In addition, according to EFE, the government imposed by the UN in Tripoli (GNA) ordered the military prosecutor to issue an arrest warrant against Jalifa Hafter, due to the constant threats against the capital.

Meanwhile, before a possible war, the United States decided to withdraw its troops from the country, which were to combat the expansion of the Islamic State. For this, the commander in chief of the force, General Thomas Waldhauser, said that the withdrawal "does not reduce the operational capacity in defense of US interests," according to El Confidencial.

A divided country

In June 2014, the legislative elections were held in Libya, where a new Lebanese parliament was to be elected. However, "the General Congress of the Nation, elected in 2012, and the Islamist government in Tripoli refuse to recognize the outcome of the elections held", according to Caracol. In this way, they call themselves "Fajr Libia (Libyan Dawn) and install a government of 'national salvation'", according to Peru21, occupying the western city of the country, Tripoli.

In the east and center, those elected in the 2014 elections are present, who claim themselves as legitimate legislators and seek support with militias that decided to recognize the elections. The leader and prime minister, Khalifa Haftar, is the one in charge of that part of the country; Haftar is recognized as an ex-military man who supported Gaddafi to rise to power. However, after being detained by the CIA, he became his biggest opponent, according to El Tiempo.

After several months of negotiations, the UN decided to devise a United Nations Support Mission in Libya, a peace plan, to elect an official representative to fulfill the respective functions of a prime minister. The chosen one turned out to be Fayez al Sarraj, who, although he did not obtain the approval of the Chamber, obtained the recognition of the Organization and the international community.

In this way, the country is controlled by two armed governments that fight for the total control of the country, being one recognized by the UN, the United States, among others; and the other, the one of Hafta, supported by Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Russia, political counterweight of the American country.

LatinAmerican Post | Laura Viviana Guevara Muñoz

Translated from "La guerra en Libia está a punto de explotar"