Libya’s parliament is set to approve the country’s first ‘official’ budget since 2020 next week. But the eastern-aligned government charged with implementing it will struggle to find the near $20bn spending figure mentioned in the draft document.

Rather than a serious attempt at much needed fiscal management in Libya, the budget should be seen as the latest salvo in an ongoing power struggle between eastern and western governments (MEES, 11 March). (CONTINUED - 934 WORDS)