Parliament to hold session in Sirte as tensions rise in Libya

Libya’s parliament has said it will hold a session in Sirte – the war-torn city on a ceasefire line between rival administrations in the east and west of the country.

This comes amid a standoff over control of the capital, Tripoli, raising fears that fighting could break out there, and of a widening gulf between political rivals.

Parliament is backing Fathi Bashagha as interim prime minister over the incumbent, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, said parliamentary spokesman, Abdullah Belhaiq.

But Mr Dbeibah, who was named head of the Government of National Unity in March last year, has refused to relinquish power unless long-delayed national elections are held next month.

Fighting ended in Sirte in 2020, after a ceasefire deal was reached between forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar – commander of the Libyan National Army and aligned with an administration in eastern city of Tobruk – and the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.

Sirte, about 370 kilometres east of Tripoli, was a stronghold of ISIS between 2015 and 2016.

Tuesday’s announcement of the Sirte parliamentary session appears to acknowledge that Mr Bashagha, who was appointed in March, cannot take over in the capital, amid a growing rift between Tripoli and Tobruk.

Before the war between the LNA and the GNA, militias in Tripoli frequently fought battles, culminating in a wave of violence in August and September 2018 that killed at least 115 people.

An attempt by Mr Bashagha to force his way into the capital could lead to fighting there, as both sides are backed by armed groups.

Libya has had little peace since the 2011 Nato-backed uprising against ruler Muammar Qaddafi.

In 2014, the country was split between warring factions in the east and west.

Mr Dbeibah’s government was given a mandate to run the entire country for an interim period as part of a peace process meant to include national elections in December.

When the election process collapsed amid disputes, the eastern-based parliament said Mr Dbeibah’s term had expired and moved to appoint its own administration.

Mr Dbeibah says his government is still valid.