Tripoli, Libya 2019/2020

Since 2011, Libya has been affected by political, security and economic volatility. An escalation in conflict and insecurity since September 2018 remained largely localised and small-scale, until 04 April 2019 when the Libyan National Army (LNA) launched an offensive to seize control of Tripoli, triggering a mobilization of counterforces operating under the command of the Government of National Accord (GNA). The launch of the military offensive came days before the planned date of the National Conference and followed months of armed confrontation between LNA and GNA-aligned forces over control of strategic locations in the south of the country. The conflict has become protracted, focused mostly in southern parts of Tripoli. However, fighting, particularly in the last few months of 2019, has increasingly moved into populated areas, causing further civilian casualties and displacement.