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Libya comes to C.A.R’s Assistance
May 30, 2001
Troops support Central African Republic against an attempted coup.
Libya and U.S. Mend Relationship
January 1, 2002
Libya and U.S. begin discussions to mend years of hostility over suspected local terrorism support.
Qaddafi Points Fingers
March 30, 2003
President Gaddafi blames Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for U.S. intervention in the Middle East.
Libya Gives up WMD
December 1, 2003
Libya states that it will no longer pursue weapons of mass destruction.
Blair Visits Libya
March 8, 2004
British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits Libya, the first time a British prime minister has done so since 1943.
Libya and U.S. Reconcile
January 11, 2005
The return of U.S.-Libyan economic relations after 20 years begins with first auction of oil and gas licenses.
Libya Promotes Public-Sector Jobs
January 26, 2007
Prime minister announces plans to increase government jobs by a third (400,000 more), to promote the private sector and relax spending.
Gaddafi Elected Chairman of African Union
February 28, 2009
President Gaddafi is elected as chairman of the African Union, with ambitions to unify the organization as the United States of Africa.
Russian Arms Deal
January 31, 2010
Libya and Russia agree to an arms deal worth $1.8 billion, which includes fighter jets, tanks, and air defense systems.
UNHCR Forced from Libya
June 30, 2010
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a UN refugee agency, is kicked out of Libya.
Protests in Libya Turn Violent
February 28, 2011
Arab Spring protesters clash against country’s leader, Colonel Gaddafi. At first non-violent, the protests turn bloody as the regime counters with a crackdown.
UAE Joins Fight in Libya
March 31, 2011
UAE joins international military operations in Libya.
Qatar Joins Fight in Libya
April 30, 2011
Qatar joins international military operations in Libya, calling on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to resign. Qatar is suspected of supplying arms to Libyan rebel groups.
New General National Congress in Libya
August 31, 2012
Libyan Transitional Government hands power to newly elected General National Congress.
Benghazi Attack
September 30, 2012
On September 11th, terrorists attack a CIA compound in Benghazi, Libya, and kill four American citizens, including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.
Gaddafi Officials Banned from Office
May 31, 2013
New law bans Gaddafi-era officials from holding public office.
Libyan Civil War Breaks Out
February 28, 2014
Libyan protesters criticize General National Congress for refusing to disband. Libyan Army General attacks Islamist groups in Benghazi. New elections are held, Islamists heavily defeated, and violence erupts between GNC advocates and loyalists to the newly elected parliament. As civil war erupts, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria captures port city of Derna.
UAE Targets Libya
August 31, 2014
The UAE intervenes in Libya, targeting Islamist militants with airstrikes.
Interim Libyan Government
January 31, 2016
UN announces new interim government, based in Tunisia; neither Tobruk nor Tripoli recognizes its authority.
Ceasefire in Libya
January 31, 2016
UN-sponsored negotiations in Geneva compel Libyan Army and Tripoli militia to agree to a ceasefire.
Oil terminals siezed
September 11, 2016
Libyan National Army (LNA) under General Khalifa Haftar seizes three Libyan oil terminals.
Islamic State driven from Benghazi
July 5, 2017
General Khalifa Haftar’s forces reportedly ejected the Islamic State and Islamist militants from Benghazi following three years of fighting.
France hosts summit with Libya
May 29, 2018
France hosted a summit with Libya’s rival faction leaders Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and General Khalifa Haftar, alongside representatives from 20 countries, including the United Nations. The parties secured a date to pass electoral laws by September 16 and to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on December 10.
Key oil imports handed back to country’s oil corporation
July 11, 2018
General Khalifa Haftar handed back control of key oil ports to the country’s national oil corporation (NOC), effectively ending the shut-down of the country’s already dwindled oil production.