US lawmakers warn against foreign interference in Libya’s election
Dec 11, 2021
US officials were pressed at a hearing on Thursday about potential headwinds facing Libya, including the presence of foreign fighters and the influence of regional powers, as the country prepares to hold presidential elections later this month.
Other lawmakers raised concerns that foreign powers, many of whom continue to deploy armed actors on the ground, will seek to influence the vote.
The UN estimates that 20,000 foreign proxies remain in Libya, including several thousand Chadian and Sudanese fighters, Russian Wagner Group mercenaries, and Turkish backed forces.
Libya, an oil-rich country, has been rocked by turmoil since a US-backed Nato intervention overthrew long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
