Fifteen years after the uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Libya remains fractured, with competing factions vying for control of the nation. As the country navigates the legacy of a civil war that dismantled one of Africa’s most prosperous states, a coalition of international powers is now pushing for a return to a single, unified Libyan state.
The conflict, which began during the Arab Spring when protesters in Benghazi challenged Gaddafi’s four-decade rule, eventually escalated into an armed rebellion. A NATO-led military intervention, supported by the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, enforced a no-fly zone that ultimately facilitated the collapse of the regime. Gaddafi was captured and killed in October 2011, exactly 42 years after he seized power in a military coup against King Idris.
Today, the nation is split between two rival authorities. In the west, the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli is led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dheibah. The east is governed by an administration based in Tobruk, which relies on the support of Khalifa Haftar and his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). While the GNU holds international legitimacy, Haftar’s forces maintain control over significant oil-rich territories in the east, reportedly with Russian backing.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve this stalemate have gained momentum, particularly following the approval of a unified national budget in April 2026—the first such fiscal agreement in over a decade. The United Nations has been facilitating mediation since 2020 through the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), advocating for a roadmap that includes national elections and a unified government.
The United States has emerged as a central mediator, with Ambassador Richard Norlan appointed as Special Envoy in 2021 to lead high-level negotiations. Under the guidance of Massad Boulous, an advisor to US President Donald Trump, Washington is currently promoting a power-sharing proposal. This plan suggests that Dheibah remain as head of government, while 35-year-old Saddam Haftar, the LNA army chief, would serve as president. Reports indicate that Saddam Haftar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington this past July.
The US initiative is reportedly linked to the potential for increased American investment in Libya’s vast oil fields, a move intended to stabilize the economy as the Libyan Central Bank struggles to fund both administrations. However, the proposal has faced criticism from some observers who argue it lacks sufficient input from the Libyan public and risks entrenching political dynasties.
Regional powers are also actively involved in the push for stability. Turkiye, which previously deployed troops to support the GNU, is now advocating for a “One Libya” policy. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently held talks with Saddam Haftar in Ankara and visited both Tripoli and Benghazi to engage with Dheibah and Khalifa Haftar.
Egypt, which maintains close ties with the Tobruk-based administration, has also stepped up its diplomatic engagement. President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Khalifa Haftar in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss unification, while Egyptian intelligence chief Hassan Rashad has conducted meetings in Tripoli. Meanwhile, Qatar continues to support the UN-led roadmap, emphasizing the need for a Libyan-driven political process.
In April, a joint statement from Qatar, Egypt, France, Germany, and other nations welcomed the unified 2026 budget, calling on all parties to follow the UN framework to “advance a Libyan-led political process leading to unified governance and national elections.” Despite these coordinated international efforts, a formal agreement to establish a single, unified government remains elusive. The report also notes that when thousands of people in the port city of Benghazi took to the streets to protest against Gaddafi’s more than four decades of absolute power, the Libyan uprising erupted during the Arab Spring. The report also notes that this bombing campaign pushed back Gaddafi’s forces from Benghazi and aided the rebels in seizing territory. The report also notes that a power vacuum emerged, with multiple groups – and their allied militias – competing for power, following Gaddafi’s death. The report also notes that and officially has authority in the capital and western Libya, the GNU is recognised by the UN and other countries. The report also notes that presidential and parliamentary elections, and hosting national dialogue meetings, this roadmap advocates for a three-track strategy that includes unifying the two rival administrations. The report also notes that under Massad Boulous, US President Donald Trump’s African and Middle Eastern affairs adviser, and father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, Washington is intensifying efforts to reunite the country. The report also notes that but this can only be achieved if both sides agree to form a single government. According to leaked details, Trump’s initiative centres on the promise that if the rival governments cooperate, the US would encourage American investment in Libya’s sizable oil fields.