The hottest drink in Tobruk, a town in eastern Libya, isn’t at a bar or even a coffeehouse. It’s aboard the Greek ferry that’s the temporary home of Libya’s parliament, where the baristas are slinging high-quality frappuccinos to lawmakers, their families and even curious locals.
The crisis in Libya is deepening after a powerful militia opposed to the country’s current government took control of the capital’s airport a week ago. Libya’s House of Representatives says Tripoli as a whole has fallen in the hands of what they call “terrorists.” However, the militias that overran the capital were former rebel groups who have been on government payroll since the end of the revolution.
Libyans had great hope when they started their revolution three years ago and deposed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Now, many are tired and frustrated with a weak central government and broken promises. On February 20, they face a hastily-arranged election to select delegates who will only now start writing a new constitution.