As its political stalemate festers, Libya risks sliding back towards civil war with diplomacy at a standstill, politicians thwarting progress towards elections and military leaders including eastern commander Khalifa Haftar threatening violence. "The crisis is mainly getting prolonged because those in power seek their own interests, not those of Libyans," said Adel al-Sheikh, 39, a Tripoli shop owner. The prospect of more conflict would not only create misery for ordinary Libyans: the stakes are also high for an inattentive world. National elections could sweep away most of the squabbling political forces that have dominated Libya through years of institutional division, outright warfare and unstable peace. He turned back and groups aligned with him were pushed out of Tripoli, leaving Dbeibah more firmly ensconced there.

Source: Libya Today November 17, 2022 10:45 UTC