Policy Paper: Stable Transition in Libya
Libya’s trajectory down the path of transition remains a rocky one. In terms of security, cities such as Benghazi have been liberated for over two years and yet continue struggling under higher levels of insecurity and instability than ever before. In politics, initial calls for democracy have turned into political party infighting within the legislative bodies, particularly between supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, Salafis and the more liberal members of government. Meanwhile, the executive arm of government, led by Prime Minister Zeidan, has expended valuable effort addressing one crisis after another. Economically, Libya continues to underperform—investment is reappearing but cash flow is still a major concern for government. The average Libyan remains unconvinced that he or she is financially better off under the post-revolutionary government
However, it is at the social level that some of the most worrying changes have taken place. Although initially unified and empowered in opposition towards the Gaddafi regime, the Libyan public has subsequently lost control of the transitional process. Power has moved from the masses to a plurality of groups, many of which operate without public consensus. This, along with government failure to fulfill mainstream expectations quickly, has frustrated Libyans. Key examples of this lack of responsiveness include delays in constitutional drafting and poor Security Sector Reform (SSR).
For the full analysis of the situation in Libya, including problem assessment and recommendations, please download the full document below.