TUNIS: Libya’s Fathi Bashagha, appointed as prime minister in a challenge to a unity government in Tripoli, plans to take office in the capital “in the coming days”, he said. In May, Bashagha arrived in the capital Tripoli in the country’s west and attempted to take office there, sparking pre-dawn clashes between armed groups supporting him and those backing Dbeibah. He backed down to avoid bloodshed, but says he has since received “positive invitations” to enter the capital. “Some armed forces have changed their position and have nothing against us entering the capital.” Both Bashagha and Dbeibah come from the western city of Misrata and are backed by different forces in Tripoli. Dbeibah came to power following a landmark 2020 ceasefire that ended a year-long battle as Haftar tried, unsuccessfully, to seize the capital by force.

Source: Libya Today July 09, 2022 23:43 UTC