Eurasia Press & News
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has condemned reports as part of a larger disinformation campaign aimed at misleading the Libyan public and diverting their attention from their rightful demands for political and economic reforms.
The ongoing disinformation campaign has been launched to deceive Libyans regarding news circulating about an imminent announcement of a new roadmap that includes freezing the work of the House of Representatives and the High Council of State. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has denied these reports, stating that they are part of a disinformation campaign. A fabricated story was spread through local and regional news networks, announcing a roadmap to elections in Libya by SRSG Abdoulaye Bathily.
UNSMIL urges all media networks to rely on the Mission’s official website for accurate news and announcements. This content was created and fueled by foreign actors in Libya, contributing to confusion about reform and a democratic roadmap. Difficulty in identifying the truth has led to demoralization and distrust among many Libyans.
Nested within Libya’s ongoing civil war is a fog of falsehoods and distortions about reform towards a democratic roadmap through elections, fake elections by Parliament, preparation of the Constitution, and polarizing narratives that have engulfed Libyan social media networks and online news outlets.
Since the US- and NATO-backed intervention that removed Libyan authoritarian leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has faced ongoing challenges. From July 2019 until now, Libya has experienced recurring social, political, security, and economic crises, resulting in weakened state institutions and a declining national economy. Various European countries have held political conferences in Berlin, France, and Moscow, and a ceasefire in 2020 ended the civil war initiated by Khalifa Haftar against rival political factions. However, this has only fueled fragmentation, disunity, and a war-driven economy.
Efforts to move forward with elections scheduled for December 2021 have been hindered by rival factions unwilling to agree, leading to the indefinite postponement of the vote. Governments have used media platforms to spread false and misleading information, further dividing the public. Frustration on both sides of the political spectrum has intensified, increasing pressure on the Government of National Unity to hold elections and address the misuse of platforms for political polarization. This situation has resulted in heightened levels of violence, protests, and division, along with new challenges such as the negative impacts of a fragile oil-dependent economy and the proliferation of weapons.
SRSG Bathily of the Security Council has emphasized his intention to intensify negotiations through constructive engagement with all stakeholders to lead to successful elections, facilitate an inclusive and transparent settlement of contentious issues in the electoral laws, and ensure these laws are implementable.
Khalifa Haftar has been aided by online firms tied to Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries, who have published divisive narratives on Libya’s social media networks. Bathily is working to reach a comprehensive agreement on controversial issues in the electoral bills to ensure their applicability for successful elections.
Starting in 2014, large networks of UAE and Saudi fake Twitter and Facebook accounts actively crowded out actual local voices by posting, creating hashtag traffic, and amplifying nationalistic sentiments in Libya. In 2019, thousands of these accounts were mobilized to glorify Haftar and his military campaign, while the EU engaged in foreign-backed efforts to undermine the formation of an informed and democratically engaged public in Libya’s digital spaces.
The United Nations Support Mission established a higher financial committee to address basic issues in public spending and the fair distribution of resources. This step aims to provide equal opportunities for all candidates in the upcoming elections by the end of 2023, ensure transparency in public fund spending, and achieve a fair distribution of national resources.
The Role of Misinformation in Shaping Libya’s Political Dynamics
Misinformation has become a powerful tool in the Libyan political landscape, significantly impacting public perception and political dynamics, and changing societal views. The spread of fake news and disinformation across social media platforms has intensified existing political polarization, leading to conflicts between rival factions. In May 2014, General Khalifa Haftar launched Operation Dignity, a campaign by the Libyan National Army (LNA) to attack Islamist armed groups across eastern Libya, aiming to consolidate and strengthen his army. The armed groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, formed an alliance called Libya Dawn. Fighting erupted at Tripoli International Airport between the Libya Dawn alliance, controlling Tripoli and most of western Libya, and the Dignity alliance, controlling parts of Cyrenaica and Benghazi in eastern Libya, escalating the conflict into a full-blown civil war that has resulted in further violence.
Various actors and political factions have exploited misinformation to influence public opinion, undermine opponents, and consolidate power. Disinformation campaigns began with the deliberate dissemination of false or distorted information, with the aim of misleading the public and shaping political narratives in favor of specific alliances. Libya, which has become increasingly difficult to control, has cut across tribal, regional, political, and religious lines. To find a solution to the conflict and establish a unity government, the UN Special Envoy to Libya facilitated talks between the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) and a key supporter of Haftar.
These talks led to the creation of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in December 2015. However, the GNA has faced challenges in establishing a stable and unified government in Libya. Amid these discussions, fabricated stories, manipulated images, and misleading statistics have emerged, contributing to a distorted understanding of political events and actors. In Libya, such tactics have exacerbated existing divisions, creating an environment of mistrust and hostility between different political groups and their supporters. Exploiting widespread political instability, Islamist militant groups, including Ansar al-Sharia, have seized territory in Benghazi, Derna, and Ajdabiya. The Islamic State’s power in Libya peaked in 2016 when it captured the coastal city of Sirte, previously the group’s most important stronghold outside Syria and Iraq. Haftar’s LNA forces have attempted to wage war against Islamist universities while in control, and their members have committed numerous human rights abuses, leading to prosecution in Libya. In July 2018, Haftar announced that the LNA had retaken the city of Derna.
Libya’s Information War: The Impact of Disinformation on Governance and International Relations
In 2019, both governments deployed a new strategy of disinformation in Libyan politics that serves multiple purposes. For some political actors, it is a means of discrediting rivals and delegitimizing opposing views, with the UN quickly brokering a ceasefire in September 2018 between the militias involved. Foreign states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Russia, back Haftar’s LNA, while Turkey, Qatar, and Italy support the GNA. Egypt and the UAE have been particularly involved in supporting Haftar militarily, fearing the GNA’s association with political Islam and the Muslim Brotherhood. This will strengthen their political standing. For others, it is a tool to mobilize supporters and influence election outcomes.
This manipulation of information is often driven by a desire to control narratives on key issues, such as governance, security, and access to resources such as oil, which remain a major source of conflict and competition. Russia has allowed the Wagner Group to assist Haftar in exchange for strategic access to ports and other transit hubs. Meanwhile, Turkey supports the GNA because of the offshore oil and gas deals it has brokered, with Turkey and Egypt agreeing to deploy troops.
The rise of disinformation in Libya has been recognized by the EU as a significant risk due to its profound consequences. Disinformation not only disrupts democratic processes, such as elections but also contributes to violence and societal unrest. In late 2022, tensions were high as the HoR consolidated its institutions and political negotiations fractured. Despite UN-led talks failing, the HoR passed a constitutional amendment in March 2023 to pave the way for elections and proposed the appointment of a new National Executive Committee to replace the General National Congress and the HoR. However, this move also led to violence and societal unrest.
The spread of false information can incite violence, deepen political divisions, and undermine trust in institutions. The HoR established a 6+6 Joint Council committee to develop a roadmap for elections. In June 2023, this committee recommended the formation of a new interim government in preparation for elections. While progress has been made in various peace talks, violence persists, and any agreement lacking strong support from Dbeibah and Haftar is likely to further polarize the situation.
Fragile Political Stability and Persistent Disinformation in Libya (2024)
In 2024, political stability in Libya remains fragile, and the public sphere is highly contested. Disinformation continues to have a strong impact, reinforcing cycles of conflict and hindering efforts toward reconciliation and democratic governance. Regional disputes over oil deposits and arms deals have further complicated the prospects for peace, with the GNA signing agreements with Turkey and Italy’s Eni, leading to tensions with Greece and Egypt over maritime borders.
The ongoing political turmoil has negatively affected economic output, as oil revenues account for over 80% of Libya’s total exports. Concerns are growing over the country’s ability to sustain itself economically as armed groups fight over oil fields, restrict production, engage in illicit trade, and disrupt operations. Addressing the challenges posed by disinformation in Libya requires a multi-faceted approach, including improving media literacy, strengthening fact-checking mechanisms, and promoting transparency in political communication. By mitigating the effects of disinformation, a more informed and united society can be fostered, ultimately contributing to greater political stability and democratic integrity.
The digital age has brought social transformation to North Africa, with an estimated 160 million social media users in the Arab region by 2021. The government utilized these platforms to spread false or exaggerated news, as seen in the impact of psychological operations (PSYOPS) in Libya, influencing attitudes and behaviors to achieve military and political objectives.
Media ownership plays a significant role in the activities of fact-checking organizations in Libya. While many claims to be independent volunteer groups, they may still face similar repression and self-censorship issues as journalists.
