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News > World

Libya's Tripoli-Based Government Resigns, Paving Way for Unity

  • A man holds a sign during a protest against candidates for a national unity government proposed by U.N. envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon, in Benghazi, Libya Oct. 23, 2015.

    A man holds a sign during a protest against candidates for a national unity government proposed by U.N. envoy for Libya Bernardino Leon, in Benghazi, Libya Oct. 23, 2015. | Photo: Reuters

Published 6 April 2016
Opinion

The United Nations-brokered unity government now has a clearer path to power in the troubled African nation.

One of Libya's dueling governments is reportedly stepping down less than a week after the arrival in the Libyan capital of a U.N.-backed national unity government tasked with rebuilding the country.

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The so-called "National Salvation" government's announcement on Tuesday came after a number of ministers met to prepare a peaceful handover of power, a Justice Ministry official said.

The statement carried the stamp of the Islamist-leaning government, although it bore no names or signatures of ministers.

"From our belief in giving priority to the homeland and saving the blood of Libyans ... we inform you that we are stopping our work as an executive power, as the presidency, deputies and ministers of the government," it said.

It was not clear if the written statement had the full support of all lawmakers in the government.

A rival, elected government in the eastern port city of Tobruk has yet to relinquish power.

The relinquishing of powers appears to mark a step forward for the U.N.-brokered unity government, called Government of National Accord (GNA), that emerged from a U.N.-mediated deal signed in December by figures from both sides of Libya's political divide.

Western powers are counting on U.N.-backed leaders to tackle the threat from the Islamic State group, stem migration across the Mediterranean, and rescue the country's finances by restoring oil production.

Unity government leaders arrived by ship from Tunisia last Wednesday, after the National Salvation government closed Tripoli's air space to prevent them from flying in, and have been operating from a heavily guarded naval base in the capital.

The group’s leaders are seeking to establish authority over Libya after years of factional power struggles following the 2011 fall of autocrat Muammar Gaddafi.

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