Libya unity govt formed under UN-brokered deal

Libya’s Presidential Council announced on Tuesday the formation of a national coalition government which aims at uniting the factions of the war-torn country under a UN-backed plan, Reuters reports. The Presidency Council, now based in Tunisia, approved the members by a vote of seven to two.

Libya sank gradually into chaos after the fall of Gaddafi regime in 2011.

Also among the new government’s posts, were three deputies for the prime minister, representing the country’s east, west and south, and two ministers to complete a presidential council.

It’s not clear where the new government would be based or if it can govern the oil-rich North African country.

The body tasked with naming a unity government for Libya under a UN-backed plan to resolve he country’s political crisis has delayed the planned announcement of the government’s members by 48 hours.

In February 2015, Egypt’s air force conducted air strikes which it says hit militant targets, after the beheading of 20 Egyptians inside Libya at the hands of militants believed to belong to a Libyan division of the Islamic State fighters. “Libya can no longer wait”, he said.

Latest developments in Libya are being discussed today during a senior officials meeting with special representative Martin Kobler in Rome, at which Malta is actively participating. The Cabinet now has 10 days to win the internationally-recognized parliament’s endorsement and a month to implement the remaining articles in the deal, including having all militias pull out from Libyan cities. He answers to army chief Gen. Khalifa Hifter, one of Libya’s strongmen and a divisive figure because of his enmity with Islamists of all shades, including the relatively moderate Muslim Brotherhood.

“The formation of the Government of National Accord (GNA) is one important leap on the path to peace and stability in Libya, I congratulate the Libyan people”.

The designated interior minister, Al-Aref al-Khoga, is a former interior minister from the Tripoli-based government who is known to have close ties with Islamists.