Government of National Stability
The Government of National Stability (Arabic: حكومة الاستقرار الوطني, romanized: Ḥukūmat al-istiqrār al-waṭanī) is a provisional government of Libya based in Sirte[1] that formed on 3 March 2022, led by Osama Hamada and supported by the House of Representatives and the Libyan National Army. Since its inception, the government has claimed power over Libya in competition with the Government of National Unity led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, with the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum coordinating the ceasefire agreement.
Government of National Stability (GNS)
حكومة الإستقرار الوطني
حكومة الإستقرار الوطني
Background[edit]
On 21 September 2021, the House of Representatives (HoR), which rules eastern Libya, passed a no-confidence motion against the Government of National Unity.[2]
Creation[edit]
On 10 February 2022, the House of Representatives selected Fathi Bashagha as Prime Minister-designate, after HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh Issa announced the only other candidate, Khalid Al-Baybas, withdrew his candidacy.[3] However, Al-Baybas denied withdrawing from the race.[4] Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh rejected Bashagha's appointment as Prime Minister, stating that he will only hand over power after a national election.[3] LNA leader Khalifa Haftar welcomed Bashagha's appointment.[5]
On 1 March, the House of Representatives voted to give confidence to Bashagha's Government of National Stability.[6][7] According to HoR Speaker Saleh, 92 out of 101 attending members voted for the new government.[6] The High Council of State rejected "unilateral" steps by the HoR and regards the HoR decision to grant confidence to a new government a violation of the Libyan Political Agreement.[8] The Government of National Unity refused to transfer powers to the Bashagha government.[9] The United Nations has voiced concerns over the vote due to reports on lack of transparency and procedure, and acts of intimidation prior to the HoR session.[10]
Bashagha and his cabinet were sworn in at the House of Representatives headquarters in Tobruk on 3 March.[11][12]
Since mid-2022[edit]
In mid-2022, the two governments functioned in parallel, holding dual power.[13]
There were clashes between supporters of the two governments starting in May 2022,[14] which escalated on 27 August 2022.[15]
In May 2023 Bashagha was temporarily replaced by Osama Hamada, citing poor performance.