Role of Tribes in Current Libyan Conflict

Author:

Dmitry Petrov

Abstract:

The article explores tribal aspect of Libyan policy. Cases of Warfalla and Tuareg tribal groups show an important role of tribal entities in modern Libya. In focus are activity of Social Council of Warfalla Tribes as an influential political actor with its own armed force and successful fight of Tuareg militias over control of huge El Sharara oilfield as well as their confrontation with Tubu tribal militias.

The main sources for the research are information from such Internet-journals as Reuters, The Economist, Al-Monitor, The Libya Observer, etc. as well as reports from expert groups such as Country of Origin Information (COI) and Global Security.

The research led to the conclusion that tribal political actors play an independent role in the process of civil confrontation in Libya. By the manipulation of loyalties and maneuvering among official political actors they protect their own kind of “hidden sovereignty” over territories and resources. Main political leaders of the country, Khalifa Haftar and Fayez al-Sarraj, are actually dependent on complicated mosaic of tribal interests which determines changing loyalties of tribal actors.

At the same time tribal actors often have links over the borders of the state. Tuareg are fine example of this phenomenon, while Tuareg tribal militias are allied with armed tribal movements of their kinsmen in Mali and Niger.

The case of Social Council of Warfalla Tribes appears to be very helpful example. The institutions of governance as well as network of alliances developed by tribal actors in fact create a spontaneous institutional alternative to a project of centralized nation-state in Libya. Representatives of these unofficial non-state institutions work in different social spheres on a grassroots level.

Keywords:

tribal politics, tribes, ethnic conflict, Libya, Khalifa Haftar, Fayez al-Sarraj, Muammar Gaddafi, Tuareg, Warfalla

DOI:

10.31132/2412-5717-2018-45-4-75-82

References:

Airstrike kills IS leader in Libya’s Bani Walid. Xinhua. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/29/c_137426027.htm (accessed 06.10.2018)
Country Policy and Information Note Libya: Security and humanitarian situation. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673747/Libya_-_Security_Situation_-_CPIN_-_v3.0.pdf (accessed 06.10.2018)
Exclusive – Derna Liberation: Haftar Faces Dangerous Task as he Turns to Western Libya. Asharq Al-Awsat. https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1305166/exclusive-%E2%80%93-derna-liberation-haftar-faces-dangerous-task-he-turns-western-libya (accessed 06.10.2018)
Factbox: Libya’s Warfalla tribe. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-warfalla-profile/factbox-libyas-warfalla-tribe-idUSTRE78028R20110901 (accessed 06.10.2018)
Fetouri M. How a small Libyan town insulated itself from surrounding chaos. Al-Monitor. https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/10/libya-bani-walid-town-security-safety-self-governance-chaos.html (accessed 06.10.2018)
Galustian Richard J.C. Endgame in Libya or not? Times of Oman. https://timesofoman. com/article/110536/Opinion/Columnist/Endgame-in-Libya-or-not-as-Haftar-forces-advance (accessed 06.10.2018)
Hattah A. Libyan tribal map: network of loyalties that will determine Gaddafi’s fate. https://www.cetri.be/Libyan-Tribal-Map-Network-of?lang=en (accessed 06.10.2018)
In a Southern Libya Oasis, a Proxy War Engulfs Two Tribes. VICE News. https://news.vice.com/ en_us/article/43my43/in-a-southern-libya-oasis-a-proxy-war-engulfs-two-tribes (accessed 06.10.2018)
Khachatrian K. Novoe peremirie v Tripoli: aeroport otkryt (New ceasefire in Libya: airport is open). Euronews. https://ru.euronews.com/2018/09/26/libya-new-ceasefire (accessed 06.10.2018)
Kudelev V.V. Al-Kaida v stranah islamskogo Magriba i dr. v Severnoj Afrike (Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb and others in North Africa). Moscow. Institut Blizhnego Vostoka. 2014, 508 p. ISBN 978-5-89394-260-6.
Libya: Security Council endorses UN plan on restarting political process. http://www.un.org/apps/ news/story.asp?NewsID=57853#.Wi5M5lVl-M9 (accessed 06.10.2018)
Libya – Tribes. Global Security. https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/libya/tribes.htm (accessed 06.10.2018)
Libya’s Bani Walid and Darj elect municipal council. The Libya Observer. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libyas-bani-walid-and-darj-elect-municipal-council (accessed 06.10.2018)
Libya’s El Sharara oilfield shut after armed group seizure. Reuters. https://uk.reuters.com/ article/libya-oil-sharara/update-2-libyas-el-sharara-oilfield-shut-after-armed-group-seizure-sources-idUKL6N0SV5QM20141105 (accessed 06.10.2018)
Libya’s Quiet War: The Tuareg of South Libya. VICE News. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4X-ps7QyBjI (accessed 06.10.2018)
Libyan airforce targets terrorists near Bani Walid city. Xinhua. http://www.xinhuanet.com/ english/2018-06/25/c_137278878.htm (accessed 06.10.2018)
One person killed, another injured in air strike in Ubari. The Libya Observer. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/one-person-killed-another-injured-air-strike-ubari (accessed 06.10.2018)
Rempfer K. Airstrike in Libya kills high-ranking al-Qaida commander. The Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2018/03/28/airstrike-in-libya-kills-high-ranking-al-qaeda-commander/ (accessed 06.10.2018)
Sherbakov S. Liviya: bitva za Dernu (Libya: the battle of Derna). Euronews. https://ru.euronews.com/2018/06/06/lybia-fighting (accessed 06.10.2018)
Subcommittee of the municipal elections in Bani Walid set on fire. The Libya Observer. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/subcommittee-municipal-elections-bani-walid-set-fire (accessed 06.10.2018)
Tabu and Tuareg announce their support for GNA. Libyaprospect. http://libyaprospect.com/ index.php/2016/04/04/tabu-and-tuareg-announce-their-support-for-gna/ (accessed 06.10.2018)
UN envoy: Libya’s elections may not be held this year. The Libya Observer. https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/un-envoy-libyas-elections-may-not-be-held-year (accessed 06.10.2018)
Uprising in Libya. Survival Hinges on Tribal Solidarity. Spiegel Online. http://www.spiegel.de/ international/world/uprising-in-libya-survival-hinges-on-tribal-solidarity-a-747234.html (accessed 06.10.2018)
Will the new peace deal end the conflict in Libya? The Economist. https://www.economist. com/blogs/economist-explains/2017/08/economist-explains?zid=304&ah=e5690753dc78ce9 1909083042ad12e30 (accessed 06.10.2018)
Zaptia S. Zawia provisional municipal election results announced. Libya Herald. https://www.libyaherald.com/2018/05/16/zawia-provisional-municipal-election-results-announced/ (accessed 06.10.2018)