Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 08/2014

Inside Libya's Wild West

Valerie Stocker

July 2014

Atlantic Council

Abstract

“Inside Libya’s Wild West” explores Libya’s rarely examined southwestern province of Fezzan and how its porous border, tribal tensions, and lack of coordination with central authorities is emblematic of the Libyan government’s failure to deliver for its citizens.

Authored by independent researcher Valerie Stocker, the brief details the lack of security on Libya’s southwestern borders, which thrives on crime, smuggling, and a rise in Islamic militant activity. The exclusion of regional tribes and ethnic groups from the central government breeds continued distrust and fosters a lack of coordination not only between the central government and the region, but among the regional players as well.