Libya

Authorities in both eastern Libya and Tripoli have faced weeks of protests over corruption and declining living standards, prompting the leaders of the two rival governments this week to announce their intention to step down. Crisis Group expert Claudia Gazzini says that popular protests and the simultaneous resignation offers will likely put pressure on representatives of various Libyan factions to agree on a new unity government during UN-mediated talks scheduled to begin in October. Chances of these talks succeeding, however, remain dim and, as a result, the risk of political infighting and further deterioration of living conditions remains undiminished.