National Salvation Government
حكومة الإنقاذ الوطني
Provisional Government overview
Formed6 September 2014
14 October 2016
Dissolved5 April 2016
16 March 2017
JurisdictionLibya
Minister responsible
Websitewww.facebook.com/GOFNSLY/

The National Salvation Government (Arabic: حكومة الإنقاذ الوطني) was a government body formed by politicians from the General National Congress's blocs that lost the June 2014 elections in Libya. The NSG was led by Khalifa al-Ghawil.[1] The term Libya Dawn Coalition was used to refer to the armed groups and the wider political movement supporting the NSG. The NSG was one of the major sides in the Second Libyan Civil War from its formation August 2014 until its dissolution in April 2016.[2][3]

History

Formation

A faction of the General National Congress (GNC) claimed to be the legitimate parliament of Libya, but did not represent a majority of the membership of that congress, refused to hand over power to the HoR.[4] The majority of the GNC members belonged to groups now participating in a separate Libyan parliament, the House of Representatives.[5]

The NSG was backed by the Muslim Brotherhood's Libyan party, the Justice and Construction Party, and the "Loyalty to Martyrs Bloc" which consists of other smaller groups allied to the Muslim Brotherhood.[5]

After their landslide defeat in the 2014 elections dominated by low turnout, Islamist parties acting under the leadership of Nouri Abusahmain used two armed groups, the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room and Libya Shield Force, to take control of the capital Tripoli.[6] In late August, Islamist militias allegedly abducted rivals (whose whereabouts are unknown) and attacked 280 homes.[7] The NSG has rejected affiliation with any of these activities and it is unknown who the exact perpetrators were, with both sides blaming each other.[8]

The leader of the GNC, Nouri Abusahmain,[8] had appointed Omar al-Hassi then Khalifa al-Ghawil as prime ministers.[9]

Libyan Political Agreement

Members of the House of Representatives and the General National Congress (GNC) signed a United Nations-supported political agreement on 17 December 2015.[10] Under the terms of the agreement, a nine-member Presidential Council and a seventeen-member interim Government of National Accord would be formed, with a view to holding new elections within two years.[10] The House of Representatives would continue to exist as a legislature and an advisory body, to be known as the High Council of State, would be formed with members nominated by the General National Congress.[11]

The Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016.[12] The following day, it was reported that the GNA took control of the prime ministerial offices and that the GNC-appointed Prime Minister Khalifa al-Ghawil had fled to Misrata.[13] On 1 April 2016, the head of the media bureau of the National Salvation Government announced that the NSG has resigned and handed its authority back to the General National Congress.[14] Media reports also claimed that the General National Congress had "virtually disintegrated".[15]

On April 5, the National Salvation Government of the General National Congress announced that it was resigning, "ceasing operations" and ceding power to the Presidential Council.[16][17] Following the dissolution of the GNC, former members of that body declared the establishment of the State Council, as envisaged by the LPA.[2]

October 2016 takeover

On 15 October 2016, forces loyal to the GNC took over the building of the High Council of State and announced the comeback of the Ghawil cabinet.[18][19] Then fighting occurred between Sarraj loyalists and Ghawil forces.[20][21]

Second withdrawal from Tripoli

The fighting spread to other areas of Tripoli on 14 March.[22] The GNA forces had recaptured the Guest Palace complex as well as the Rixos hotel. The channel was taken off-air while Khalifa al-Ghawil was also reported by one of his aides to have been injured in the clashes.[23][24] An agreement called for withdrawal of all armed groups from Tripoli in 30 days.[25]

On 28 May, the 7th Brigade of the Presidential Guard (Al-Kani brigade) from Tarhuna, took over the Tripoli International Airport as a neutral side after Misratan militias loyal to Khalifa al-Ghawil withdrew from there following two days of heavy clashes.[26] By the next day, the city of Tripoli was fully under control of GNA forces, with all GNC forces withdrawing as a result of clashes with GNA forces.[27]

Prime Ministers of the National Salvation Government

Incumbent Office Since Until
Omar al-Hassi Prime Minister of the National Salvation Government 6 September 2014 31 March 2015
Khalifa al-Ghawil 31 March 2015 1 April 2016
14 October 2016 16 March 2017

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Leaders of Libyan unity govt venture onto Tripoli streets". Reuters. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "GNC members announce its "dissolution" and creation of the State Council". Libya Herald. 2016-04-05. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  3. ↑ "Tripoli's National Salvation Government quits - Libyan Express". 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "Abu Sahmain, Ghariani condemned by Thinni and parliament leader Saleh". Libya Herald. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Libya: The Muslim Brotherhood's Last Stand?". Huffington Post. 25 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Libya – Democracy's Complex Child". International Business Times. 29 August 2014. Archived from the original on 23 May 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Tripoli residents face dilemma after Libya Dawn take control of capital". The Guardian. 31 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. 1 2 "Libya's ex-parliament reconvenes, appoints Omar al-Hasi as PM". Reuters. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Daragahi, Borzou (31 March 2015). "Tripoli authority sacks prime minister". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 Kingsley, Patrick (17 December 2015). "Libyan politicians sign UN peace deal to unify rival governments". TheGuardian.com. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  11. ↑ "Libyan deal on course, but who is on board?". 25 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2015-12-28.
  12. ↑ "Support grows for Libya's new unity government". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Rebel Tripoli administration vanishes |". 31 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "Tripoli Salvation Government resigns, hands power back to GNC - Libyan Express". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Op-Ed: Libya Herald report claims that Tripoli government 'vanished'". 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "Libya's Tripoli Government Says Will 'Cease Operations'". ABC News. 2016-04-05. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  17. ↑ "Tripoli authorities cede power to Libyan unity government: statement". Yahoo! New Zealand. 2016-04-05. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  18. ↑ "GNC retakes parliament compound, High Council of State condemns - The Libya Observer". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Rival group seizes Libya's UN-backed government offices". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital Tripoli - Region - World - Ahram Online". Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  21. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "West Tripoli clashes force evacuation of central business area". The Libya Herald. 14 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2018-04-02.
  23. ↑ "Libya govt forces overrun Tripoli militia headquarters". Agence-France Presse. Arab News. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "Fighting in Libya's capital as one government seizes another's compound". The New York Times. Reuters. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  25. ↑ "Ceasefire reached in Tripoli after three days of bloody fighting". Libyan Express. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  26. ↑ "Tripoli International Airport taken by Tarhuna brigade, Tajouri rejects". Libya Observer. 28 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  27. ↑ "Ghwell said his fighters withdrew to prevent further damage in Tripoli". 29 May 2017. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
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