The war against Gaddafi was won in a series of independent uprisings, leaving heavily armed groups — each with its own narrative of sacrifice and victory. Today alliances between Libyan politicians and these militias hearken back to the previous era.

Toppling Muammar Gaddafi created a security vacuum that the new government filled with former freedom fighters. Now the trick is convincing them to put down their weapons.

The atmosphere in Tripoli on 20 October 2011, when the last remnants of Muammar Gaddafi’s forces were defeated, and Gaddafi himself along with his son Mutassim were killed, was one of almost unbridled hope. The then longest-serving head of state, an authoritarian dictator with a highly personalised and increasingly totalitarian …

While the security situation continues to worsen in Libya, over the past few months, Ansar al-Sharia in Libya (ASL) has been taking advantage of the lack of state control by building local communal ties, which is strengthening its ability to operate in more locations than Benghazi.

While the security situation continues to worsen in Libya, over the past few months, Ansar al-Sharia in Libya (ASL) has been taking advantage of the lack of state control by building local communal ties, which is strengthening its ability to operate in more locations than Benghazi.