Al-Bunyan al-Marsus (Impenetrable Wall)

A formation of Misratan armed groups that affiliated with the GNA and liberated Sirte of Islamic State control in December 2016.

Ali Zeidan

Prime Minister of Libya from 14 November 2012 to 11 March 2014. PM Zeidan’s cabinet was responsible for most of Libya’s attempted SSD/DDR programmes.

Fayez al-Serraj

Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA).

General National Congress (GNC)

A temporary legislative body elected in July 2012 to transition Libya towards a permanent democratic constitution over a period of 18 months.

Government of National Accord (GNA)

Libya’s interim government formed under the sponsorship of UNSMIL as per the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement signed on 17 December 2015.

House of Representatives (HoR)

An elected legislative body created by the June 2014 national elections, replacing the GNC, and based in the city of Tobruk.

Khalifa Haftar

Head of the Libyan National Army and Dignity Operation. In 2015, Haftar was appointed commander of the armed forces loyal to the HoR. In Gaddafi’s days, he served as a brigadier in the war against Chad. After Libya’s defeat, he was arrested in Chad but soon defected and was relocated to the US.

Justice and Construction Party (JCP)

A political coalition emerging from the July 2012 elections, made up mostly of Islamists and members affiliated with the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood

Libyan National Army (LNA)

A self-styled army led by commander Khalifa Haftar. In addition to professional brigades it consists of militia groups, mercenaries and tribal levies.

National Front Alliance (NFA)

A political coalition that emerged from the July 2012 elections and consisted mostly of non-Islamists and Gaddafi regime defectors.

Supreme Revolutionaries’ Council (SRC)

An alliance of armed groups composed of forces favouring the Political Isolation Law and keen to remove PM Zeidan from office. The SRC was mostly Misratan, but included units from Cyrenaica, al-Kufrah, Salfist and Amazigh groups.

UNSMIL

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya, headed by UN Special Envoy, Ghassan Salame.