On Wednesday 30 March, Faiz al-Sarraj, president-designate of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) arrived in Bu-Setta naval base in Tripoli. Sarraj’s arrival was secured by Misratan armed groups, especially Al Nawasi and the Tripoli-based Rada’a militia.

Nouri Bousahmin, president of the General National Congress (GNC) called on Sarraj to leave Tripoli, and declared a state of emergency. There was sporadic exchange of gunfire between armed groups supporting the GNA and GNC, especially after some of Sarraj’s supporters forced Al Nabaa TV off the air. This move reflected very badly on Sarraj’s UN-backed GNA, with regard to its respect for freedom of expression. Calm, however, returned to Tripoli, as both Bousahmin and Sarraj called for restraint. A delegation of Misratan traditional and religious leaders also arrived in Tripoli and engaged in talks with Misratan militias to reason with them.

Grand Mufti Saddek al-Ghariani, however, criticised Sarraj’s move and called on him to find a solution with the GNC in light of the reservations that both the GNC and Ifta House raised the day after the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), in Morocco, in December 2015. The reservations mainly concern: principle 5 of the Governing Principles of the LPA (the commitment to Islamic Sharia as the source of all legislation); article 62 (review of laws and decisions issued from August 2014 until the adoption of LPA); Article 13 of the Additional Provisions section of the LPA (advisory opinion of UN Special Mission in Libya in cases of disagreement among Libyan institutions on interpreting the LPA). There were also reservations pertaining to the definition of terrorism in the Political Agreement and the future of armed groups. Sarraj, his deputy in the Presidential Council Ahmed Maitig and Mohamed Al Amari sought to meet with Sheikh al-Ghariani, but the latter declined the request and told them to discuss with the GNC.

Sarraj has managed to gain support from the Libyan Central Bank, oil terminals’ protection forces, and several other business and civil society organisations. Contrary to some reports, Sarraj’s GNA is still confined to the naval base and have not gained access to the building of the prime minister in Sekka Road, at the time of writing. Despite UN, European Union, and United States support for Sarraj, facts on the ground in Tripoli compel all Libyan rival parties of the conflict to negotiate, regardless of UNSMIL’s LPA. Sarraj, Bousahmin, and Aguila Saleh are very aware of the reality on the ground and that the alternative to discourse would be bloodshed and the destruction of Tripoli. Sarraj therefore stated in his speech that national reconciliation and inclusiveness are top priorities of his action plan. He is also mindful that if the GNC was determined to expel him from the Bu-Setta naval base, they would have already done so.

Sarraj’s troubles are not limited to the GNC in Tripoli. Sarraj is facing an uphill political battle in eastern Libya. Saleh, president of the House of Representatives (HoR) has called on Sarraj and all GNA ministers to travel to Tobruk, and seek endorsement from the HoR, as stipulated in the LPA. Meanwhile, Saleh met with Khalifa Hafter in Al Merj to agree a way forward. A session of the HoR was scheduled for Monday 04 April, to endorse the GNA, but did not take place because of lack of a quorum. Sarraj fears that once in Tobruk, they would be locked up by Hafter. There are rumours of Hafter’s plans to declare a military council in the east.

The latest development in Tripoli was the arrival of Turkish envoy Emrullah Ishler, together with the Turkish ambassador to Libya. Ishler is said to have held talks with Sarraj, Bousahmin, and Sheikh al-Ghariani. The meeting Ishler held on Monday 04 April discredited reports by some western news outlets that Bousahmin and his government had vanished from Tripoli and fled to their hometowns.

Some ambassadors have begun to return to Tripoli. Tunisia and Qatar have re-opened their missions in the western city. On the constitutional drafting process, reports from Oman, where the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA) has been gathering, indicate that consensus has been reached on the issue of the Libyan capital. Reportedly, members agreed for Tripoli to host executive bodies, Benghazi to host legislative bodies, and Sebha, in the south, to host the constitutional court. The CDA meetings in Oman have been boycotted by a third of its 60-member assembly, however.

Links for more information:
https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/04/03/presidency-council-reveals-gna-vision-and-programme-of-work/

شلار: تركيا تقود وساطة بين المجلس الرئاسي والغرياني

Rebel Tripoli administration vanishes. Ghwell flees to Misrata


https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/04/03/gunmen-stopped-from-seizing-nabaa-tv/

Petroleum Guards ready to work under GNA authority


https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/04/03/military-commanders-gathering-in-marj-to-discuss-presidency-council/
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2016/3/28/libyan-unity-government-announces-move-to-tripoli
http://ifta.ly/web/index.php/2012-09-04-09-55-33/2015/2846-bayanscholarsdraft6
http://www.presssolidarity.net/news/ONENEWS/132001
http://alnabaa.tv/news/view/6775

Posted by lakhdarghettas

Dr. Lakhdar Ghettas Author of Algeria and the Cold War: International Relations and the Struggle for Autonomy (London & NY: IB Tauris, 2018)