Libya has been a hotspot of unrest and power struggles for years, but recent findings suggest a new player may have quietly stepped into the mix.
An investigation published in May 2025 has brought to light that US private security contractors could have been active in Libya during 2024, operating alongside local forces.
This development adds a fresh layer of complexity to a conflict already entangled with international involvement.
How Did Investigators Find Out About This Presence?
What makes this investigation unique is its method.
Nordic Sentinel, the group behind the report, didn’t just rely on typical intelligence leaks or official statements.
Instead, they combined fitness tracker data from individuals with open-source intelligence, effectively tracking movements that hint at private contractors working at Libyan National Army (LNA) bases.
These bases are under the command of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, a major figure in eastern Libya’s military scene.
The contractor group linked to this activity is Frontier Services Group (FSG), a company founded by Erik Prince, the controversial former CEO of Blackwater.
FSG mainly focuses on security and logistics projects in Africa, often connected with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which makes its presence in Libya particularly intriguing—and sensitive.
The Complicated Background of Frontier Services Group
FSG is no ordinary security company. It’s been under US sanctions since 2021 and has partial ownership by the Chinese government.
This raises eyebrows because it means any operations in Libya might intersect with both American and Chinese interests—something that could have big geopolitical ripple effects.
Despite Nordic Sentinel’s strong evidence, no independent source has yet officially confirmed FSG’s activities in Libya throughout 2024.
However, we do know that other US contractors are active there. For instance, back in April 2024, Libya Update reported that Amentum, another American defense contractor, was training armed groups loyal to Libya’s outgoing Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli.
This shows there’s definitely a footprint of US private contractors on the ground.
The Bigger Picture of Libya’s Fractured Political Landscape
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been struggling with divided control.
Two main factions fight for power: the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east.
Both sides have leaned heavily on foreign mercenaries and private military contractors to bolster their forces.
Russian-backed Wagner Group is one of the most well-known, supporting Haftar’s LNA.
This investigation suggests that American contractors might also be getting involved, although discreetly.
If true, this would mark a significant development in the internationalization of Libya’s conflict.
Why FSG’s Possible Role in Libya Matters
FSG presents a unique challenge in this puzzle.
While the company brands itself as a logistics and security service provider for Chinese businesses in Africa—and denies involvement in combat or paramilitary operations—its founder’s history with Blackwater fuels speculation about the true nature of its activities.
If FSG’s presence is confirmed, it could mean the US has a deeper, more indirect role in Libya than publicly acknowledged.
Plus, because of FSG’s Chinese ties, it could indicate an unusual convergence of American and Chinese interests in the region, adding another layer to the global geopolitical chess game.
Quick Facts About Libya’s Geography and Situation
For context, Libya is a large country in North Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea and several nations including Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia.
It’s the fourth-largest country in Africa by area, and its capital Tripoli is home to over a million people out of roughly seven million in the country.
Libya’s ongoing instability, coupled with foreign powers’ involvement, has made it a complex and volatile hotspot.
The potential role of US contractors like FSG only deepens the story.