Abdul Hamid Dbeibah

Libyan Cabinet Affairs Minister Survives Assassination Attempt in Tripoli On a seemingly ordinary Wednesday in Tripoli, Adel Juma, Libya’s minister for cabinet affairs, found himself the target of a shocking assassination attempt. According to a statement from the U.N.-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU) that spearheads governance in Libya's capital, Juma barely escaped with his life after an unidentified assailant opened fire on his vehicle. An inquiry is currently underway to identify those behind this…

Libyan lawmakers voted to end the term of the Tripoli-based government led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah on Tuesday. In a statement, parliamentary spokesman Abdullah Belhaiq said the assembly voted to consider the eastern Libya-based cabinet of Osama Hammad as "the legitimate government until a new unified government is elected." The parliament also appointed its speaker, Aguila Saleh, as commander of the Libyan armed forces in place of the presidency's advice. There was no immediate…

Libya's electoral body said on Saturday that it was ready to hold elections once a political agreement had been reached. US Ambassador Richard Norland met with Imad al-Sayeh, head of Libya's High National Electoral Commission (HNEC), to discuss developments in the crisis-stricken country. "It was encouraging to hear Dr. al-Sayeh confirm the HNEC's readiness to hold elections once a political agreement has been reached on the way forward," Norland was quoted as saying in a statement from the embassy.…

Libya can once again see two rival administrations and a return to instability, the UN political chief warned on Wednesday and called for elections to be held as soon as possible to unite the war-torn country. Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the UN Security Council that she was encouraged by the support for a UN initiative to convene a joint committee of Libya's rival House of Representatives and senior ministers with the aim of reaching an agreement on both "on a constitutional basis…

Libya can once again see two rival administrations and a return to instability, the UN political chief warned on Wednesday and called for elections to be held as soon as possible to unite the war-torn country. Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the UN Security Council that she was encouraged by the support for a UN initiative to convene a joint committee of Libya's rival House of Representatives and senior ministers with the aim of reaching an agreement on both "on a constitutional basis…

Libya's Supreme Leader Khalid al-Mishri called on all sides to reconcile on a constitutional basis and agree on electoral laws to pave the way for stability in the country. In a statement released by the Council's press office after a meeting with British Ambassador Caroline Hurndall on Tuesday, al-Mishri said it was crucial for all parties to reach a constitutional settlement in line with the Libyan people's demands and establish correct electoral laws. ensure free and open voting. In addition to the…

Libya's interim prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met with heads of diplomatic missions in the capital, Tripoli, on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in the midst of the eastern parliament's appointment of Fathi Bashagha as prime minister. A statement from the Unity Government noted that Dbeibah had told the Heads of Mission that the government was aiming to hold elections as part of the UN Roadmap. In response, the ambassadors told Dbeibah that the necessary work had to be done to hold…

Libya's interim prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah has called on his government to continue working in the midst of the eastern parliament's decision to appoint Fathi Bashagha as prime minister. Dbeibah told ministers they should ignore rumors circulating on social media and reiterated the idea that he will only hand over power to a government through elections. He referred to the government of the East-based parliament led by Bashagha as a parallel structure. "The National Unity Government is still…

UN envoy Stephanie Williams on Friday offered to mediate between political rivals in Libya as two rival governments claim power after tentative steps towards unity over the past year. Williams, the UN Special Adviser in Libya, invited lawmakers to appoint 12 members to a committee to work to overcome the political stalemate. "The solution to Libya's crisis is not to form rival administrations and perennial transitions," Williams tweeted. "Libyans must agree on a consensual path forward that…

Fathi Bashagha, appointed by Libya's east as prime minister, said on Wednesday that he would not use force to take office in Tripoli despite the incumbent's promise to retain power. Parliament will swear in Bashagha as prime minister on Thursday, but the head of the current interim government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, has refused to relinquish control, raising the prospect of fighting. "It will not be used by force, either by us or the existing government," Bashagha told Reuters in an interview. "Tomorrow…