US passes bill enabling sanctions on foreign actors in Libya

The legislation would sanction foreign actors backing rival Libyan factions loyal to forces in either Tobruk or Tripoli.

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could sanction foreign actors supporting rival factions in Libya.

The House on Tuesday voted 386 to 35 in favour of the Libya Stabilisation Act, introduced by Democrat Ted Deutch and Republican Joe Wilson.

The move came one week after Libya’s eastern-based parliament passed a no-confidence vote in the country’s unity government based in Tripoli under the administration of interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, in a new blow to United Nations-backed peace efforts and jeopardising upcoming elections.