Libya: Washington urges Dbeibeh, Bashagha to calm situation

The US has called on the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, and the Prime Minister designated by Parliament in Tobruk, Fathi Bashagha, to call a truce and a de-escalation of contacts with all parties.

This came in a brief statement by the US Ambassador to Libya, Richard Norland, published by his country’s embassy yesterday on Twitter.

“The U.S. continues to urge calm and de-escalation in contacts with all sides,” wrote Norland.

He added, “That was my message to Abdulhamid Dabaiba at the meeting he hosted with foreign diplomats this morning, and my colleagues in Washington had a similar conversation with Fathi Bashagha this afternoon.”

2/2 That was my message to Abdulhamid Dabaiba at the meeting he hosted with foreign diplomats this morning, and my colleagues in Washington had a similar conversation with Fathi Bashagha this afternoon.” #Libya

— U.S. Embassy – Libya (@USEmbassyLibya) March 8, 2022

This comes amid a state of political division in Libya, after the House of Representatives in Tobruk appointed Bashagha as head of a new government, instead of the government of Dbeibeh, which refuses to hand over power except to a government that comes through a new elected parliament as per the UN plan.

Dbeibeh bases his adherence to the continuation of his government on the basis that the Political Dialogue Forum set the duration of the work of the transitional executive authority at 18 months, which lasts until 24 June.

On Tuesday, Dbeibeh stressed, during his meeting with 14 ambassadors, his commitment to holding elections “as soon as possible.” He also reviewed his government’s plan for the elections and said that it is in harmony with the United Nations plan.

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