High

Libyan Civil Wars

Revolution and later civil wars that fractured Libya into rival governments, militias and foreign-backed zones of control.

Timeline
2011-2020
Duration
10 years
Region
North Africa
Record
Static archive

Historical overview

Overview adapted from a Wikipedia summary and stored locally on May 11, 2026.

The Libyan crisis is the current humanitarian crisis and political-military instability occurring in Libya, beginning with the Arab Spring protests of 2011, which led to two civil wars, foreign military intervention, and the ousting and killing of Muammar Gaddafi. The first civil war's aftermath and proliferation of armed groups led to violence and instability across the country, which erupted into renewed civil war in 2014. The second war lasted until October 23, 2020, when all parties agreed to a permanent ceasefire and negotiations.

Theater countries

Libya

Actors

Gaddafi governmentrebel forcesrival Libyan governmentsmilitiasforeign backers

Tags

civil-warstate-collapsenorth-africa

Border context

2009-2013historical border era

Arab uprisings and insurgency expansion

Uprisings, regime collapse and insurgencies spread across the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel.

Syria and Libya enter civil war. Mali and Lake Chad become major insurgency theaters.
2014-2019historical border era

ISIS wars and renewed interstate pressure

The ISIS territorial project, Yemen's war and Russia's first phase of war against Ukraine reshape conflict geography.

ISIS loses territorial control by 2019. Crimea, Donbas, Yemen and the Sahel remain decisive zones.
2020-2022historical border era

Pandemic-era wars and invasion shock

Wars in Ethiopia, Myanmar and Ukraine show state collapse, mass mobilization and renewed interstate war.

Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion reorients European security. Myanmar's coup turns into nationwide civil war.

Navigation