Once the United Nations suspended its sanctions regime in April 1999, Libya began to introduce socioeconomic reforms aimed at liberalizing its economy. Greeted with some skepticism, the liberalization movement gained momentum as Libya first resolved the Lockerbie dispute and then renounced unconventional weapons. Considerable progress was made in the ensuing years; however it was notably uneven, with reform to the oil and gas industry outstripping initiatives in other economic sectors. Liberalization efforts continue but they are increasingly threatened by resistance to political reform.

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