In October 2011 the Libyan civil war had effectively come to an end. Tripoli had fallen two months before and the National Transitional Council announced its victory and promised Libyans a hopeful democratic future. The formal plans for the next phase of Libya´s revolution are well-known for they had been promulgated long before military victory was achieved. Nevertheless, the plans for the future can only go forward provided a set of initial conditions, chief amongst them the restoration of security under the Council´s control, are satisfied first. The article analyses the prospects for a successful political transition in Libya.