Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Shura Council recommends the closure of the Hormuz Strait and leaves the decision up to the Iranian National Security Council.
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: As time passes, the people's solidarity increases, which is a divine blessing
IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour: The Iranian Revolution Guard Corps' aerospace operations will not stop
Russian Foreign Ministry: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi must ensure that an objective report is presented at the special session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Russian Foreign Ministry: The UN Security Council must respond to the US attacks on Iran
Russian Foreign Ministry: We strongly condemn the US strikes on Iran, calling the decision irresponsible
Iranian Red Crescent: Three personnel martyred, 29 injured in Israeli aggression
IRGC: We have identified and monitored the departure points of the US aircraft that carried out the aggression
IRGC: America has neither the initiative nor the ability to escape the consequences of a powerful response
IRGC: We strongly affirm that Iran's peaceful nuclear technology cannot be destroyed by any attack

Bashagha plans to take office in Tripoli in coming days

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Jul 2022 19:44
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Libya's appointed Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha says Abdulhamid Dbeibah's government is illegitimate and stresses that two governments are not acceptable.

  • x
  • Fathi Bashagha
    Fathi Bashagha

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 told AFP.

In February, Libya's parliament picked the former interior minister to lead a government to replace that of interim premier Abdulhamid Dbeibah - appointed last year as part of a UN-backed peace process to end more than a decade of violence in the North African country.

But Dbeibah has refused to hand over power before elections, setting up a confrontation with Bashagha.

In May, Bashagha arrived in the capital Tripoli in the country's west and attempted to take office there, sparking clashes between armed groups supporting him and those backing Dbeibah.

Bashagha told AFP that he backed down to avoid bloodshed, but said that he has since received "positive invitations" to enter the capital.

"All the roads are open into Tripoli and God willing we'll be there in the coming days," he said in an interview, on Friday, from his temporary base in the central city of Sirte.

The appointed prime minister indicated that "Some armed forces have changed their position and have nothing against us entering the capital."

Bashagha: Dbeibah's government is "illegitimate"

Dbeibah came to power following a landmark 2020 ceasefire that ended a year-long battle as eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar tried unsuccessfully to seize Tripoli by force.

Related News

Libya's eastern parliament approves national reconciliation law

Libyan MP Ibrahim al-Darsi disappeared after his home was stormed

The transitional government had a mandate to lead the country to elections last December, but they never took place due to divisions over the rules and the presence of controversial candidates.

Bashagha, 59, argues that today, Dbeibah's government is "illegitimate".

"Its mandate is over, and it failed to make elections happen," he said.

For elections to take place, he added, "the only condition is that Libya only has one government. Two governments is not acceptable."

Bashagha, a former fighter pilot trainer, was Interior Minister between 2018 and 2021. He said that he did not believe there would be a return to war, but warned that "there might be chaos because of demonstrations."

Bashagha: Adopt solutions that work for Libyans

His comments came days after protestors stormed Libya's parliament building in the eastern city of Tobruk, demonstrating against the political elite - including both Dbeibah and Bashagha - and deteriorating living conditions.

The three days of demonstrations, fuelled by public anger over chronic power cuts that have shut down air-conditioning units at the height of summer, also hit other cities including Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi.

Dbeibah's government has blamed the power cuts partly on fuel shortages caused by a blockade of key oil installations in Libya's east, by groups demanding Dbeibah's departure and a handover to Bashagha's government.

But Bashagha insisted there was "no link", indicating that once residents of the "Oil Crescent" region are "reassured that the revenues will not go to corruption, or theft or to other places, they will lift the siege on the oil exports."

The appointed prime minister also called on the world body "to adopt solutions that work for Libyans rather than just for the states that are interfering in Libya."

"We've succeeded in avoiding any military confrontation but Libya can't stay like this forever," he added, stressing that "There has to be a solution."

  • Benghazi
  • North Africa
  • Libya
  • Fathi Bashagha
  • United Nations
  • Tobruk
  • Abdulhamid Dbeibah
  • Tripoli
  • Khalifa Haftar

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • Today

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Iran demands urgent UN Security Council session over US airstrikes

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, testifies before a hearing April 18, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington (AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
US & Canada

Trump aides pushed war on Iran with Mossad-fed intel, ignoring dissent

This photo released on Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP, File)
Politics

Iran: Minor damage to nuclear sites after US attack, no radiation

The U.S. Capitol, on June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

US lawmakers condemn Trump’s strikes on Iran; MAGA base frustrated

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS