Libya’s unity government sees rival group withdraw

Days after the UN-brokered unity government arrived in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, to take control of the country, one of its rivals has stepped down. The self-declared National Salvation government issued a statement saying: “We put the interests of the nation above anything else, and stress that the bloodshed stop and the nation be saved from division and fragmentation.” The move comes at a time when another rival government, the Tripoli-based Islamist-backed administration of prime minister Khalifa Ghweil, has refused to cede power. In a bizarre about-face, Ghweil announced earlier in the week that his administration would step down, before later retracting this in a statement. The move prompted the EU to impose sanctions on him and two other ministers for what it described as hindering the unity government from beginning its work. The US and its allies continue to hope that the unity government will be able to unify the country as well as support wider moves against ISIS. 

One of Libya’s rival governments has resigned, a step that helps efforts by a new, UN-brokered unity government to assert itself in the capital Tripoli despite opposition from some local militias.

In a statement, the Tripoli-based National Salvation government said it would “cease duties” as executive authority, and therefore absolve itself of responsibility for the country’s fate.

“We put the interests of the nation above anything else, and stress that the bloodshed stop and the nation be saved from division and fragmentation,” the statement read.

Western nations view the new unity government as the best hope for ending Libya’s chaos and uniting all factions against an increasingly powerful Islamic State affiliate, which has seized the central city of Sirte. Another government, based in the eastern city of Tobruk, still opposes the UN-backed body.

Libya has been dominated by an array of militias since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Tuesday’s move came after the European Union slapped sanctions on three Libyan officials, including prime minister Khalifa Ghweil of the Islamist-backed government in Tripoli, for what it described as hindering the new unity government from beginning its work.

The others sanctioned are Agilah Saleh, parliament head in Tobruk, and Nuri Abu Sahmain, who leads the outdated General National Congress.

Hassan al-Sgear, the head of Ghweil’s office, said Tuesday’s decision came after discussions between his office and the Cabinet on ways to stop the bloodshed in Libya’s civil war.

The head of the new government, Fayez al-Sarraj, arrived in Tripoli by sea last week to set up a temporary seat of power in a naval base despite threats from competing factions, which prevented him from arriving by air.

US secretary of state John Kerry has welcomed Sarraj’s arrival, as did the UN envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, who was in Tripoli on Tuesday and said he received a warm welcome by a population tired of war.

The US and its European allies hope the UN-backed government can unify the country and serve as an ally against Islamic State (Isis). US special forces have been on the ground, working with Libyan officials, and US warplanes have carried out airstrikes.

Libyan officials say small teams of French, British and Italian commandos are also on the ground helping militiamen battling Isis in the eastern city of Benghazi, though those three countries have not confirmed their presence.