THE LIBYAN SITUATION: THE ANALYSIS OF A DOUBLE CRISIS

Abstract

In February 2011, NATO intervention to support the revolution against the Qadhafi regime
was based for the first time on the UN R2P doctrine (responsability to protect). Authorized
by Security Council resolutions, that intervention ended Qadhafi dictatorship but it opened
a double crisis both at the internal and international levels. State building operations with
the assistance of international actors is stuck: two parliaments and two governments compete
in Tobruk and Tripoli. A creeping civil war opposes militias and rekindled old divisions between regions, tribes and clans. That involves struggle for natural resources, particularly oil.
The political and military chaos slows down the constitutional process hindered by disagreements on major topics such as the rôle of Islam, local government, participation of civil society groups, allocation of resources… The constitution draft is therefore inevitably complex
and uncomplete. That highly charged situation contributes to destabilise the whole region. It
also opened a humanitarian disaster which already affects Europe with an uncontroled flow
of migrants from Africa and elswhere, shaking up EU discussion on migration policy.