Libya’s new government wins confidence motion

(3 minutes read)

·        Libya’s parliament voted recently to approve a unity government to lead the North African nation to December elections

·        Now, the interim government would have to take the country peacefully towards the general elections to be held in December this year

·        There were allegations of vote buying the discussions to get the confidence motion passed

·         But Dbeibah, which  includes two deputy prime ministers, 26 ministers and six ministers of state defended the government

Libya’s parliament voted recently to approve a unity government to lead the North African nation to December elections. Now, the interim government would have to take the country peacefully towards the general elections to be held in December this year.

This decision to have an interim government  was hammered by joint consultations among warring groups and UN took an active interest in bringing hostile two groups in the country across the negotiating table.

Oil-rich Libya plunged into a ciivil disorder after dictator Moamer Kadhafi was dethroned.  He was killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Parliament approved Dbeibah’s cabinet, with 121 of the 132 lawmakers present voting in support, his spokesman said  after two days of intense debate.  The new interim government is tasked with a number of grievances, important among them is the  dire economic crisis and soaring unemployment. The public service in the North African country is also in disarray.

Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibeh or Dbeibah (63) is a  politician and businessman from the Western city of Misurata. On 5 February 2021, he was designated as prime minister of the country during the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

Libya has been split between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord, based in the capital Tripoli and backed by Turkey, and an administration in the east supported by Khalifa Haftar.  He has the backing of the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia. There were allegations of vote buying the discussions to get the confidence motion passed. But Dbeibah, which  includes two deputy prime ministers, 26 ministers and six ministers of state defended the government. Importantly, two key portfolios foreign affairs and justice portfolios are being handed by women. The new administration also has to toil hard for ensuring the departure of an estimated 20,000 mercenaries and foreign fighters in Libya.