Libya: Tripoli News

The Washington Post recently had a lengthy article on Libya. In some ways it is just summarizing some of the militia fighting that is occurring between the Seventh Brigade, that comes from outside of Tripoli, versus the militias that are located in Tripoli, Tripoli Revolutionary Brigades and the Nawasi. The article does have this interesting analysis:

“The GNA has been on life support for a considerable period of time,” said Mary Fitzgerald, a Libya researcher who has focused on the country’s militias. “This current episode underscores its powerlessness, and the fact that it depends on these armed groups more than these armed groups depend on it.” Serraj’s [Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj] words “simply do not have any effect,” she said.



What the article does propose is that this fighting might give an opening for ISIS to return. It also mentions the threat from eastern Libya where General Khalifa Haftar has threatened to march on Tripoli.

The article also has this regarding the December elections:

The clashes have jeopardized hopes for holding elections at the end of the year. France and the United Nations view them as a vital step toward political stability. But other European governments such as Italy, as well as many Libyans, see holding a vote as untenable given Libya’s chaotic swings.

It has to be remembered that the French provide support to General Khalifa Hifter. The United Nations is behind Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. Note the different opinions on the matter between the French and Italians.

Voice of America looks into this difference between France and Italy. Why are there conflicts?

1. Italy believes that Libya is in their "sphere of influence" and are not pleased that France both started the war to over throw Gaddafi and is also attempting to come to a peaceful resolution without consulting Italy.

2. France believes that Italy's backing of certain militias was not the correct policy (a militia that the article doesn't name, but is located in the city of Misrata, which is east of Tripoli).

Via Reuters, we learn that the Prime Minister recently reshuffled his cabinet.

In the reshuffle, Serraj appointed Fathi Ali Bashagha as interior minister. He comes from the western city of Misrata and is close to its armed groups, some of which took part in the Tripoli clashes. The government also named a new economy and industry minister, Ali Abdulaziz Issawi, who comes from Benghazi in eastern Libya, home to a rival administration. Issawi is a veteran figure from the rebels who toppled Gaddafi.

The Washington Post states that the militias in Tripoli don't need the Prime Minister, but that the Prime Minister needs them for their security protection. It isn't mentioned in the Reuters article, but it would be interesting who lost their job as interior minister. Also, not sure if the economy and industry minister is a new position or got a new minister. Either way, someone has to be upset by these appointments.