This reporting week has seen the UN – backed Government of National Accord (GNA) move into its official operational office space in the capital.
Vice president Musa Kuni underlined the intention of the GNA to assume its work from the headquarters of the government, describing the handover of the building as a ‘’genuine start’’ for the government to take active steps towards revitalizing Libya.
This weekend saw the UN host the Libya Dialogue meeting in Tunis, Gammarth Golden Tulip Hotel. It was reported, that on Saturday a presentation was given with regards to the new Libyan Constitution and that this will now undergo a referendum vote before going into effect. On Sunday, meetings were held regarding the creation of a unified Military. The meetings also focussed on a broadening consensus for Prime Minster, Fayez Serraj’s Government of National Accord (GNA).
However, frustration is growing amongst the members of the Libya Dialogue at the inability of the Presidency Council to make an obvious impression within the first three months of arrival in the capital. The primary concerns of the members are power cuts, cash and insecurity.
Whilst in the east the House of Representatives National Sovereignty Bloc (NSC), lashed out at UN special Envoy, Martin Kobler, stating that he is behaving as if he was the governor of Libya and the Libya Dialogue was meaningless.
The capital has continued to suffer major power outages throughout the reporting week. Power cuts as in previous weeks are lasting up to 18 hours per day. This lead to local residents coming out in force to protest against the outages, and in some cases not only in the capital but also in other parts of the country, leading on to major road being blocked with sand barriers, burning tyres and angry protesters.
Reports came in on Saturday that the President of the GNA Faiez Serraj had personally fired the entire board of the state power company GECOL and appointed a new president and chief executive. The head of the Presidency Council and prime minister-designate said that the GECOL management had failed to solve the problems of power cuts and electricity distribution.
Fighting continued throughout the reporting week as Al Bunyan, Al Marsoos forces continued to close in on the final Daesh hideouts in Sirte. The media bureau of the operation reported that the forces had advanced into Quagadougou conference halls, Ibn Sini Hospital and Al – Jeeza Military Zone in Sirte, where Daesh militants are held up in their last positons. A medical source from Al Marsoos operations room confirmed that 17 of their fighters had been killed and 140 injured during the fighting that took place in Quagadougou.
The western frontlines of Benghazi have witnessed heavy clashes during the reporting week, as the Shura Councils fellow fighters from the ‘’Defend Benghazi Brigades (DBB)’’ advanced towards the city of Benghazi. Unconfirmed reports are that DBB are now positioned in Ratah village, just 100 kilometres west of Benghazi.
Unconfirmed reports came in on Wednesday that, Government of National Accords (GNA) acting Minister of Defense, Mahdi Barghathi, may have been targeted by a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED). It was reported in a statement, that the assassination attempt took place whilst the acting defense minister was leaving the Battalion 204 headquarters in Benghazi. The explosion left two wounded soldiers and injured four civilians, including two children. However, the acting defense minister was unharmed.
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