Overview
Libya held its first post-Qadhafi elections on 7 July and to have successfully managed the near-term risks of holding the elections. Security incidents were relatively few and largely focused in the Cyrenaica region, where opposition to the polls was strongest. A national government including Islamist parties may now reduce the risk of post-election backlash.
During the election period militia forces aligned to the federalist Interim Cyrenaica Council (ICC) maintained their road blocks on the coastal highway at Wadi Al-Ahmar, 100km east of the coastal city of Sirte. Alongside the road blocks, ICC-aligned militias also forced the closure of the oil exports in the Gulf of Sidra for 48 hours. Federalist protestors launched scattered attacks on ballot warehouses and voting stations in the lead-up to polling and on election day.
There were no serious security problems in Tripoli or northwestern Libya during the election period. After months of severe ethnic and tribal problems in Libya's deep south, both Sebha and al-Kufra were largely quiet during the election period. Two rockets were fired at the Benghazi Medical Center by unknown assailants on 6 July.
