8 - A Divided International Community Confronts a Divided Libya

Summary

This chapter first examines the positions of the local actors in the evolving conflict in Libya: the Qadafi regime and its forces on the one hand; and the Transitional National Council and the opposition forces on the other. The second part assesses the role of a wide range of international actors – other than NATO – who were involved in addressing the Libyan crisis between March and October 2011. These actors – including the UN, the Libya Contact Group, regional organizations, and individual states – also claimed to have the authority to act on behalf of the international community. A number of them, while being highly critical of NATO’s implementation of resolution 1973, advocated an entirely different course of action vis-à-vis Libya, focused on brokering a political settlement to the conflict. Finally, the chapter examines the convergence of international views emerging towards the end of the conflict. It also assesses the decision-making process leading to the establishment of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and to the termination of the Security Council mandate provided for in resolution 1973 – which effectively transferred the responsibility to protect back to Libya’s national authorities.