The Libyan Prime Minister-designate, Fathi Bashagha, confirmed that he will enter Tripoli soon to exercise the duties of his government. He indicated that some forces opposed to his government in the capital changed their positions.
This came during Bashagha’s statements, to Agence France-Presse (AFP), published Saturday in an interview he conducted via video from his government headquarters in Sirte.
The Libyan Prime Minister said that all roads to Tripoli are open. He added, “we have received several positive invitations to enter the capital.”
In mid-May, Bashagha tried to enter Tripoli with his government but withdrew hours after clashes broke out in the capital between two armed groups.
Bashagha commented on that attempt, “we withdrew to avoid bloodshed.” He noted that “the forces that were in opposition have changed their positions and want us to enter the capital and we will enter. There is no strong opposition, there is opposition from some forces that received money from the previous government.”
Bashagha also stressed that the Government of National Unity (GNU) headed by Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba is illegitimate and its mandate has expired, according to what was announced by the Libyan House of Representatives (HoR) after it failed to hold elections.
He warned that chaos would prevail in Libya because of the demonstrations, and people demanded that there be a single government that would be able to gather the Libyans and begin the reform process.
Bashagha denied any connection between the power outage and the closure of oil facilities. He pointed out that the residents of the Oil Crescent, after being assured that the money would not go to corruption, thefts, or others, would lift the ban on oil exports.
The Libyan Prime Minister called on the United Nations (UN) to adopt solutions that work for the benefit of the Libyans instead of the countries that interfere in the affairs of Libya. He added, “we were able to avoid any military confrontation, but Libya cannot remain in this state forever. We need a solution.”