Lobbying of the internal Libyan conflict actors in the United States (comparative analysis)
The purpose of this study is to compare lobbying of the internal Libyan conflict actors in the United States. The author focuses on informational materials submitted by lobbyists in accordance with Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA). The methodology of the study is comparative analysis of different cases of different lobbyists hired by the commander of Libyan national army (LNA) H.Hafter, on the one hand, and prime minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya AlSarraj, on the other hand. Al-Sarraj’s government has struggled to exert its authority across Libya, not only in the eastern region where it fights against the Libyan National Army. President Donald Trump has spoken by phone with Libya’s Field Marshal Khalifa Hafter, who is leading an offensive to take over the capital of Tripoli - the seat of the U.N. supported government. There are a lot of other signs that D.Trump backs H.Hafter despite the State Department and Congress recognize Al-Sarraj’s government. Concerns of GNA have raised about Hifter’s advance on Tripoli and strengthening support warlord by important outside backers, among such are Russia, the UAE, Egypt. According to FARA filing the lobbyists of GNA interests provided strategic consulting and management services to identify interest groups allied with client in different bodies of American Government. At the same time lobbyists of LNA tried to counter attempts Hafter’s adversaries and advocate Marshall Hafter through communication letters and Congressional hearings. But the results of lobbying the legislation in the Senate and Congress on behalf of Al-Sarraj were more substantial, media and public relations work was successful and powerful too. The goal of GNA was achieved partly. Trump’s Administration could neither support openly Marshall Hafter nor betray Al-Saraj’s Government.