In the wake of ousting attempt by parliament’s embattled Libyan Prime Minister Mr. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah said that son replacement could trigger war in the North African country.
Addressing the Libyans on Monday night, Dbeibah reiterated son insistence on handing over over power only to one elected government. He mapped out a seemingly unrealistic plan to hold elections in June.
Already plagued by divisions between rival administrations in east and west, Libya has found himself with two rivals prime ministers in Tripoli after missing a crucial deadline for December elections.
Dbeibah called for any effort to install an interim government “reckless” and a “farce” that could lead for more war. He was referring to the continued efforts of the House of Representatives at confirm a new of transition government chaired by Prime Minister designate Fathi Bashagha.
“I will not accept in any form over (power) to chaos,” he said. An election, he said, “is the only solution.”
Effort to replace Dbeibah stems from Libya’s will failure hold her first presidential election during son mandate. It was a blow for international efforts to end a decade of chaos in the oil-rich Mediterranean nation.
The presidential vote was originally planned for December 24, but it was postponed over conflicts between rival factions on laws governing elections and controversial presidential candidates. Lawmakers have argued that the mandate of at Dbeibah government ended on December 24.
The basis is parliament earlier this month named Bashagha, a powerful former interior minister from West city of Misrata, for former a new temp worker government. He must submit son practice at parliament this week. Bashagha’s appointment was part of a roadmap for set elections within the next 14 months.
In an eight-page speech on Monday evening, Dbeibah mentioned the “war” or “wars” eight times. He described parliamentthat is move like a failed manoeuvre” which goes trigger “war and chaos”.
Dbeibah said he got engaged in negotiations with his rivals to avoid current deadlocked but his efforts failed. He accused one rival, putschist, General Khalifa Haftar, of inflame “political chaos” in the country.
There was no immediate comment of Haftar, who led a failed offensive for capture the capital of Tripoli in 2019 rival militias.
United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that the UN’s message is “for Libyan leaders to take decisions by consensus, establish framework and also keep in pay attention to the best interests of the Libyan peopleespecially those who took the brave steps of registration to vote.”
He said that Stephanie Williams, the secretary-general is special to advise on Libya, continues its consultations with Libyan and other parties key players and was in Tunis Monday meeting with some ambassadors.
Dbeiba, who like Bashagha is from Misrata, came up with a four-part plan points to organize a simultaneous parliamentary meeting vote and a referendum on overdue constitutional amendments in June. This would be followed by a presidential election after the new parliament draw up a permanent constitution. He did not offer a deadline for the presidential election.
In an attempt to woo weary Libyans of war and chaos, Dbeibah appealed for what he called “a true national movement” to push for elections.
Anas el-Gomati, director of Libyan think tank Sadeq Institute, said Dbeibah’s roadmap reflects the deep political dispute. It is primarily designed to remove powerful Speaker of Parliament Aguila Saleh, he said. Saleh is one of Dbeibah’s fiercest rivals and main force behind substitute son government.
“If Bashagha attempts to force through another parallel administration, allied to Haftar, war could break out out (and) it would further delay the election,” he said.
Libya has been unable to hold elections since its disputed legislature vote in 2014, which caused the county to be divided for years between rival administrations, each backed by armed militias and foreign governments.
The oil-rich North African nation has been embroiled in conflict since the NATO-backed uprising toppled and then killed longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
