Libya: the struggle for power intensifies

Fathi Bachagha (our photo) claims that the Dbeibah government is now illegal but the latter refuses to leave power.

AFP

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2 mins

In Libya, the struggle for power and legality has intensified since March 1.

Parliament gave its confidence to a new government and the country has since found itself with two parallel governments: a new one called "stabilization" led by Fathi Bachagha and the previous one, that of "national unity", led by Abdel Hamid Dbeibah whose the validity theoretically expired on December 24, 2021. Bachagha claims that the Dbeibah government is now illegal but the latter refuses to leave power.

The population fears the worst and refuses to undergo a new war. 

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“ 

We are going to take power in Tripoli by force of law

 ,” declared the new Prime Minister, Fathi Bachagha, trying to temper a very tense situation which risks plunging the country into a new cycle of violence.

He inaugurated his mission by addressing all the security forces and all the institutions, ordering not to obey the directives of the Dbeibah government, whose mission " 

is over 

".

“ 

Dissuade any security breach 

He asked the security forces to defend the seat of government and ministries while putting themselves on alert to " 

deter any security breach 

".

For their part, the governor of the Central Bank, the head of intelligence and the attorney general of Tripoli must now deal directly with him and no longer with the Dbeibah government.

Bachagha called on the president of the Aviation Authority to reopen the airspace closed since Wednesday on the orders of Dbeibah. 

Start the " 

work

 "

His government is now the sole legal representative of the executive power, he said.

As for the Parliament, it asked the outgoing Prime Minister to make the transfer of power in a calm and peaceful manner " 

so that the new government can begin its work

 ".

The American adviser to the UN Secretary General, Stephanie Williams considered that “

 the Libyan solution does not lie in the formation of rival administrations 

”.

She proposed to work together on a Constitution in order to organize the elections.

To read also: Libya: Parliament places its trust in the Bachagha government

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  • Libya