The Interior Ministry of the Libyan Parliament-designated government denounced the UN’s “dealings with the rival Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, and its coordination with it regarding holding the elections.”
The Interior Ministry of Fathi Bashagha’s government said that the GNU’s “influence does not exceed the capital, Tripoli.”
This comes in response to the meeting of the UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily with the acting Minister of Interior of the GNU, Emad Trabelsi. He affirmed the ministry’s readiness to “secure and protect the elections.”
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that “the promotion and publishing of the meeting with the rival government lacks credibility, and contradicts the Libyan reality.” It called on the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to “respect the Security Council’s decision, and its tasks in charge of mediation between all Libyan parties.”
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.
On 10 February 2022, the Libyan Parliament announced the unanimous appointment of Fathi Bashagha as the new Prime Minister. But Dbaiba warned that the appointment of a new interim government could lead to war and chaos in the country. He renewed his pledge to only hand power over to an elected government.
Last week, Bashagha ruled out holding elections without a unified government, blaming Dbaiba for failing to hold elections in December 2021.
In a televised interview, Bashagha said that the elections must be held after the legislative parties agree on a constitutional basis.
He noted that there are indications towards a political action plan from the Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS), under the auspices of the United Nations.
Bashagha stressed that the security establishment must also be unified to hold elections, and that steps towards unification should begin.