LIBYA DESK

This report covers political and security updates in Libya for the week of August 29 - September 4, 2025. Clients can download the full report at the end of the summary.

With growing political instability in western Libya, there is a clear sense that the status quo is shifting, triggering an intensified struggle over the country’s vast natural wealth.

The chances of renewed fighting across the Libyan capital, Tripoli, appear increasingly likely as efforts to contain GNU Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba fail.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)’s new political roadmap for resolving the national crisis has received rare praise across Libya’s political spectrum. It presents a real opportunity for success, but only if UNSMIL can capitalize on its momentum.

Libya’s High National Election Commission (HNEC) has finally conducted the long-awaited second round of municipal elections, but uncertainty remains as momentum builds for new national elections.

Saddam Haftar's rise as the successor to his father, LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar, ends the question of "who comes next?"—but now the real one begins: can he fill his father's shoes?

This report covers political and security updates in Libya for the week of August 1 - August 7, 2025. Clients can download the full report at the end of the summary.

In recent years, UNSMIL has failed to provide meaningful leadership, allowing Libya’s political crisis to deepen with no clear path forward. While it has thus far fallen short of its mandate, it still retains the opportunity to recalibrate, though time and public confidence are running out.