The first round of UN-brokered talks led by the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission concluded in Geneva, Switzerland without a full ceasefire agreement.[11][12]
February 16
Representatives from a dozen countries meet in Germany to discuss withholding weapons from warring factions in Libya.[13]
April 27 – Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA) move to seize control of the country and the Kremlin reaffirms its support for a diplomatic solution. Hafter is supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt. The Government of National Accord (GNA) is recognized by most other countries internationally.[18]
May 6 – Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary organization seen as being close to Vladimir Putin, are fighting in Libya, UN diplomats say.[19]
May 23 – U.S. President Donald Trump calls upon Turkey President Recep Erdogan to push Khalifa Haftar for de-escalation. Haftar is a U.S. citizen.[20]
May 26 – The U.S. (AFRICOM) says Russia has sent fighter jets to Tripoli to support the mercenaries trying to topple the government. Russia says this is ″disinformation.″[21]
June 3 – The internationally recognized government of Libya retakes Tripoli International Airport.[22] Egypt and the UAE, both backers of military commander Khalifa Haftar, support the ceasefire announced on June 2.[23]
June 12 – Explosive devices, landmines, and mass graves of civilians, many buried alive, are discovered in the city of Tarhuna, Murqub District after the city is taken by GNA forces.[24]
June 27 – Ninety-three migrants are rescued off Libyan shores as they tried to reach Europe, but six others died along the way.[25]
July to September
July 10 – Haftar's Libyan National Army allows a tanker to load about 730,000 barrels of crude from the eastern port of Es Sider, with the cargo bound for Italy.[26]
July 12 – Khalifa Haftar vows to blockade ports and the National Oil Corp. reimposed force majeure. At least three oil firms stopped production or canceled plans to restart.[26]
August 21 – The GNA and the LNA both declared a ceasefire.[27]
October to December
November 12 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports a shipwreck off the coast of Khums, Libya, which claimed the lives of over 74 migrants. The boat was reported to be carrying over 120 people. Forty-seven survivors have been brought to shore by the coast guard and fishermen. It is the eighth such incident since the beginning of October.[28][29]
November 16 – Libya Civil War: UN-sponsored peace talks failed to establish an interim government by November 16, although both sides pledged to try again in a week.[30]
December 17 – Eighteen fishermen held since September 1 for invading Libyan waters are released.[32]
December 21 – Lockerbie bombing: The United States accuses Abu Agila Masud of the 1988 bombing and requests his extradition. Masud is serving a ten-year sentence for a separate bomb attack.[33]
December 25 – Warring factions begin a prisoner exchange in al-Shwayrif.[34]
Events by issue
Turkish troops deployed to Libya
In January 2020, Turkey sent troops and electronic warfare tools to Libya to defend the existing government there.[3][4] Several countries protested against Turkey's actions including Greece, France, Egypt, and the United States.[35][7][8]
In July, the United States said it had verifiable photographs showing Russia has sent weapons, air defense systems, and mercenaries to Libya. Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and France support Khalifa Hifter's forces. Turkey has sent arms and Syrian mercenaries to back the government of Tripoli.[36]
Khalifa Hifter threatened to use force against Turkish troops after the Turkish parliament extended authorization that allows the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya for another 18 months starting December 2020.[37]
^Libya: Haftar's forces capture strategic Sirte. Eastern forces, led by Khalifa Haftar, have announced the capture of the coastal city of Sirte, previously controlled by the Tripoli government. The news comes a day after Turkey deployed troops in support of Tripoli. dw.com, Jan 7, 2020.
^Elumami, Ahmed; Farge, Emma; Laessing, Ulf; Amara, Hani; al-Warfalli, Ayman; Khalek, Hesham Abdul; Laessing, Ulf (February 18, 2020). Heinrich, Mark; Elgood, Giles; Shumaker, Lisa (eds.). "Tripoli government suspends Libya talks after Haftar attacks Tripoli port". Reuters. Libya's internationally recognized government on Tuesday suspended talks hosted by the United Nations to halt warfare over the capital after eastern forces shelled Tripoli's port, killing three people and almost hitting a highly explosive gas tanker.
