The end of an affair? Libya and Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This article reviews the policy that Libya has followed vis-à-vis the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the African Union (AU) during the last decade. The first part examines Libya's attempt to promote the ‘United States of Africa’ agenda. It analyses the multifaceted role of Libya in the AU and presents her attempts to promote sub-regional integration through the Community of Sahel-Saharian States (CEN-SAD). It also examines Tripoli's policy of mediating in African conflicts and reinforcing economic relations with SSA. The second part of the article examines Libya's policy towards SSA in the context of her wider external relations and evaluates the extent of continuity and change. The article concludes that volatility continues to be the crucial characteristic of Libya's foreign policy.