Libya: the Minister of the Interior of the Government of national unity suspended

Libyan Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha, from the Government of National Unity, was suspended on August 28, 2020. Mahmud TURKIA / AFP

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The Minister of the Interior of the Government of National Unity, Fathi Bashagha, was suspended from his functions on Friday, August 28. Officially his suspension is linked to the demonstrations of recent days which have been violently repressed.

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According to a statement from the Government of National Unity, the Minister of the Interior is "  temporarily suspended  ". He will respond to an "  administrative inquiry  " into "  his statements concerning the demonstrations and incidents  " which occurred in Tripoli.

Since Sunday several demonstrations have taken place in the capital against corruption and the deterioration of living conditions. Incidents broke out. On Sunday armed men fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd, injuring several people.

The Minister of the Interior rejected any responsibility for this repression and accused unidentified armed groups of having kidnapped and kidnapped demonstrators whom he described as "  peaceful  ".

His suspension comes amid growing rivalry between the head of government and his interior minister. Fayez el-Sarraj, supported by militias from Tripoli, is increasingly contested. And Fathi Bashagha, supported by Ankara and the militias of Misrata, would have the ambition to take the head of the government of Tripoli.

The Under-Secretary at the Interior Ministry, Khaled Tijani Mazen, has been assigned to act as interim secretary pending a decision.

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  • Libya
  • Fayez el-Sarraj

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