Abstract

From September 11-12, 2016, General Heftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) took the strategically important oil terminals on the coast of the eastern Gulf of Sidra in a surprise attack. Immediately thereafter he opened them up for oil exports by the National Oil Corporation (NOC). Heftar’s probable operational aim is to secure Bin Jawad, or preferably the Red Valley further towards the west to be able to conduct a defense-in-depth of the oil ports.  On September 21, 2016, Abdulrahman Sewehli, influential Misrata politician and President of the State Council , declared that the House of Representatives (HoR), Libya’s internationally recognized parliament is “non-existent”. He stated that the Council assumes full legislative authority, an action which is not foreseen in the Libya´s political process. Reconciliation is becoming ever more difficult. Is this the beginning of the end of a country, the break-up of Libya?