Tripoli authorities cede power to Libyan unity government

Libya’s self-declared government in the capital Tripoli has announced that it has ceded power to a UN-backed unity government in an attempt to prevent further sectarian clashes and end political chaos in the strife-torn country.

“We inform you that we are ceasing the activities entrusted to us as an executive power,” said a statement released by the unrecognized National Salvation government on Tuesday, adding that the Tripoli authorities were “no longer responsible... for what could happen in the future.”

The statement further said that the authorities made the decision to hand over the power because they were determined to “preserve the higher interests of the country and prevent bloodshed and divisions” in the North African country.

The development came almost a week after unity government Prime Minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj along with several members of his cabinet arrived from Tunisia at Tripoli’s Abusita naval base by boat amid threats from rival factions, which prevented him from arriving by air.

Earlier, however, the so-called General National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli, had branded their entry into the city illegal and demanded that Sarraj either leave or surrender.

ME