What caused competing governments to form in Tripoli and Tobruk in 2014?

The formation of competing governments in Tripoli and Tobruk in 2014 was driven by deep political and military fractures following the expiration of the General National Congress (GNC) mandate.1

In May 2014, Khalifah Haftar launched Operation Dignity, an offensive against Islamist factions he accused of dominating the GNC. Amidst this instability, elections were held in June to replace the GNC with a new assembly, the House of Representatives. However, the process was marred by low voter turnout and security concerns.1

The resulting conflict escalated when:
* Islamist parties rejected the election results, and the Supreme Court declared the new assembly unconstitutional.1
* A coalition of armed Islamist groups, known as Libya Dawn, restored the outgoing GNC in Tripoli, establishing the National Salvation Government (NSG).1
* The newly elected House of Representatives convened in Tobruk, operating under the protection of Haftar’s forces.1

This split led to the fragmentation of key state institutions, including the Central Bank and the oil sector, as both sides vied for control over the country's governance and resources.1