The Libyan Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha said he will meet his rival PM, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, only if he cedes power.
During a conference held in the city of Sirte, Bashagha announced a project called “Development of a Nation.” He said his government will allocate 1.5 billion Libyan dinars for the national project.
“Despite the difficulties and limited capabilities, my government seeks to maintain stability and serve the citizen,” Bashagha said.
He has also allocated 100 million Libyan dinars to provide medicine for patients with tumors, kidney issues, and a number of chronic diseases.
The Libyan premier welcomed the formation of the 6+6 Joint Committee to prepare electoral laws, formed by the Libyan Parliament and the High Council of State (HCS). He praised the “harmonious and democratic” way in which its members were chosen.
Moreover, Bashagha hailed the role of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), and the recent bilateral visits aimed at unifying military institutions.
Last week, a well-informed source at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue claimed that the two Libyan rival governments agreed to attend a mediation meeting hosted by the Center. He added that the Center is planning an “informal consultative meeting between the rival parties, who have already approved the talks, which will also be attended by all Libyan institutions.
The source – who spoke on condition of anonymity – told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meeting “will be held in response to a request from several Libyan parties, and regional and international countries.”
He also stressed that the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL) “has nothing to do with this meeting, but it is of course invited to attend as a party to the Libyan crisis.”
The source explained that the meeting “aims to reach a consensus among all Libyan institutions regarding a new initiative announced by UN Envoy to Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, during his latest briefing to the UN Security Council.”
They noted that the meeting is scheduled to be held on 5 April in Geneva, Switzerland. It will be attended by the main Libyan stakeholders and representatives of the international community, with the aim of “developing practical recommendations that support holding constructive elections, before the end of this year.”
The source stated that the meeting will constitute the final session of the discussions that will be held from 3-5 April between the Libyan parties. As well as adding that the talks will “focus on finding guarantees during the pre-and post-electoral period, in addition to the electoral calendar and security arrangements related to the elections.”
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.
The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December 2021, and the refusal of Prime Minister Dbaiba, who is leading the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s eastern-based Parliament appointed Bashagha, who has sought to install his government in Tripoli for months.