How Libya reached its dangerous political impasse

2012 - Armed groups take rootA rebel council stages elections for an interim General National Congress which creates a transitional government but true power lies with an array of local armed groups. 2014 - East-west schismFormer army general Khalifa Haftar sets up a new Libyan National Army group that battles Islamist armed factions. 2019 - Haftar attacks TripoliAfter finally crushing Islamist groups in the east, Haftar drives his LNA through southern Libya, bringing most remaining oil fields under his control. 2023 - ParalysisAn uneasy peace prevails, but behind the scenes political factions continue to manoeuvre and the standoff continues. In August, rival armed factions in Tripoli battle over the seizure of a commander.