TUNIS (Reuters) – Libya’s UN-backed Presidential Council yesterday called on the country’s institutions to begin a transfer of authority to a unity government, and appealed to the international community to stop dealing with any rival powers.
The Presidential Council is tasked with guiding through a transition to end the political chaos and armed conflict that has plagued Libya since the fall of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The council nominated a unity government last month, but recognition of the proposed cabinet has been held up by the failure of Libya’s eastern parliament to vote to approve it.
The political and security vacuum in Libya has helped Islamic State establish a foothold in the north African country, carrying out attacks on cities and against oil installations.
The Tunis-based council has faced stiff opposition from hardliners in both the eastern House of Representatives (HOR), which received international recognition, and in a rival parliament in the capital, Tripoli.
It is also unclear when a unity government could move to Tripoli, where the security situation is still volatile and some armed factions may try to prevent it from operating.
