Protesters angry at presence of unauthorized French forces in Libya

Thousands of angry protesters marched in a number of Libyan cities on Wednesday to denounce what they claimed were French airstrikes that targeted Defend Benghazi Brigades (DBB).

The protesters also complained about the silence of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) — headed by PM Faiez Sirraj — on the issue. Actually a recent tweet says:

In Tripoli, protesters marched to Martyr's Square chanting both anti-French and anti-GNA slogans. Protests were also held in Misrata, Gharyan and Zawiya. They called for the overthrow of the GNA and formation of a higher council of revolutionaries. Salah Burki Brigade, one of the most powerful in Tripoli according to the Libya Observer, denounced the airstrikes and French intervention in Libya. France denies that its planes carried out the overnight attacks that killed 13 members of the DBB.

French president Francois Hollande confirmed today that three French soldiers had been killed in what was described as a helicopter crash during a dangerous intelligence-gathering operation. In a speech he said: "At this moment we are carrying out dangerous intelligence operations [in Libya]." Earlier in the day, French government spokesperson, Stephane Le Foli,confirmed that French special forces were operating in Libya saying: "Special forces are there, of course, to help and to make sure France is present everywhere in the struggle against terrorists." The Defend Benghazi Brigades (DBB) claimed to have shot down the helicopter.

Al Jazeera says, "Libyan military officials would not comment on the report that French nationals were on board the helicopter but said that all four in the helicopter who died were Libyans." Al Jazeera does not say whether the officials were of the GNA or from the Libyan National Army of Khalifa Haftar who are clashing with the DBB as they advance towards Benghazi.

The Defend Benghazi Brigades were formed back in early June and marched toward Benghazi to help the Benghazi Shura Council of Revolutionaries who have mostly been defeated by Haftar's forces. The group clashed with Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) forces in Ajdabiya and then moved on towards Benghazi where they captured some territory but it appears that they have recently suffered losses particularly after airstrikes following the downing of the French helicopter. The group has strong support from the Grand Mufti, a bitter opponent of Haftar and his Operation Dignity, meant to clear Libya of Islamists, or at least any one with Islamist leanings who opposes him.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Sadiq al-Gharyani said the French confirmation of the death of three soldiers in western Benghazi province is an apparent declaration of war on Libya and called on Libyans to denounce such an intervention: “Libyans must unite to fight the foreign attack, the issue is crystal clear now, our country is being attacked by a foreign country – the French are fighting the revolutionaries in Benghazi.”

Gharyani said that revolutionaries should stop supporting the the PC and the GNA, as their decisions were all in favor of General Haftar and his loyal followers. He also complained that what Libya was experiencing was " a crime crafted in the intelligence lobbies and executed by the international community with the blessing of the political parties who are supposedly called revolutionaries." The existence of the DBB is causing the GNA a huge headache since the group is directly challenging Haftar in battle in open civil war. Meanwhile, the GNA with the UN has been trying to bring Haftar and the House of Representatives (HoR) to support the GNA unity government. According to the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), the HoR must vote confidence in the GNA and then become its legislature. This has yet to happen and the government of Abdullah al-Thinni with the HoR, based in Tobruk in the east, remains separate from the GNA.

Over a week ago it was revealed through audio communications that U.S., UK and French troops had all been helping Khalifa Haftar in his attacks on Islamists in Benghazi. US and UK special forces are also supporting the offensive against the Islamic State in Sirte. As a recent tweet claims:

In other words, western powers are supporting both the GNA and Haftar even though they give lip service to only recognizing the LNA. This can only encourage Haftar to keep pursuing his aim to remain head of the Libyan armed forces in any new unity government.

New Libyan Government of National Accord announced

The announcement of the formation of the Libyan Government of National Accord(GNA) was made early this morning. The declaration was signed by only seven of the nine members of the Presidency Council, the senior officials of the GNA.

Two members, Ali Gatrani, a designated deputy minister and Omar Al-Aswad, a Presidency Council minister, had earlier suspended their membership of the Council. According to the Libya Herald:

They did so in support for General Khalifa Hafter, demanding that the Libyan Political Agreement clause that the Presidency Council take over as supreme commander of the armed forces be dropped and, reportedly in opposition to the appointment of Al-Mahdi Ibrahim Al-Barghathi as defence minister.CIA-linked General Haftar is the commander in chief of the Libyan National Army associated with the internationally-recognized House of Representatives (HoR) based in Tobruk and Bayda. Bayda has demanded that the HoR leave the city. Most of the government offices are there rather than in Tobruk.

The addition to Section 8 of the Libyan Polltical Agreement(LPA) says all the senior military position functions are to be carried out by the Presidential Council from the time of the signing of the LPA back on December 17 last year. This provision has been ignored and Haftar continues as commander in chief of the LNA. The GNA has clearly not been carrying out their obligations under the LPA. This apparently is of no significance. Equally of no significance is the fact that the HoR mandate ran out last October and there was no legal basis for extending it unilaterally. This can safely be ignored since it is what the powers that count accept that is relevant. The UN Security Council and many foreign power brokers want the GNA to go forward so if the HoR votes confidence in the GNA that is all that matters.

Events are no doubt being steered by the Presidency Council in collaboration with the Martin Kobler, the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) In Liibya. The Herald give a frank assessment of how things were done: The names were selected in collaboration with members of the House of Representatives negotiating on behalf of their towns and areas, not on the basis of competence for the job. This was done to try an ensure that the HoR now votes for the package. It has to do so within ten days, by 29 January.

All of the HoR representatives who support the GNA will also be guaranteed jobs in the GNA as the HoR becomes the sole legislative body of the GNA. Nevertheless, Kobler will need to give some ironclad guarantee that Haftar remains in his position as commander of the LNA before he can hope to pass the GNA through the HoR, and many may also object to some of those named as part of the government.

A meeting of the HoR could happen as early as today. If there is no quorum, this will show that "the fix is not in" as yet. So far the GNA is operating only through ignoring Article 8. Perhaps someone has told HoR members that this can go on indefinitely and that Haftar's role should not be an issue. Even if the GNA ignores section 8 of the LPA, the Presidency Council is required to appoint someone to be commander in chief of the LNA within the GNA in a reasonably short time and this will generate opposition from many members of the GNA from the west and the former GNC should Haftar retain his position.

The Herald notes there will be 105 ministers with only one being a woman. As the Guardian report on the new government notes:Women lose out in Libya’s new order. Sarraj ignored Kobler’s request to have women form 30% of his cabinet by appointing only one, culture minister Asma Mustafa al-Usla.

This is of no significance of course as Martin Kobler SRSG welcomed the formation of the GNA: “This is a sterling opportunity for Libyans to come together to build their country. The formation of the Government of National Accord (GNA) is one important leap on the path to peace and stability in Libya, I congratulate the Libyan people. Hard work lies ahead”.No doubt there will be numerous other cheerleaders joining in. Already Fredirica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, has joined the chorus and noted that EU foreign ministers had reaffirmed their readiness to support the GNA once it takes office. I am not sure if it is a misprint with the Herald putting "Hafter" for "Kobler" but the paper claims:Said Hafter: “I call on the members of the HoR and its presidency to uphold the country’s national interest above all other considerations and promptly convene to discuss and endorse the proposed cabinet”.I would be surprised if Haftar said anything such as this as some of his supporters are resigning from the GNA because his status in the new GNA is not guaranteed. Indeed if the GNA had pain any attention to Article 8 he would have lost his job over a month ago.

There are rumours that there could be vote on the GNA in the HoR as early as today.However, Kobler must ensure that there is a quorum and that they will vote in the right way, that is to give a vote of confidence in the GNA. Given that the GNA has paid not attention to the LPA requirement that they take on Haftar's job perhaps Kobler can assure HoR members that the status quo of Haftar as commander of the LNA will not change.

Deputy Minister in GNA resigns prior to vote on cabinet by Presidency Council

As the midnight deadline approaches for the announcement of the formation of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), a senior official has resigned.

Ali Al-Gatrani is one of the deputy prime ministers in the government of prime minister designate Faiez Serraj. His resignation is reported in the Libya Herald. The reasons for his resignation have not yet been made public.

Al-Gatrani had threatened to resign two weeks ago along with another deputy prime minister, Fathi Majbri. An official told the Herald then that the threats were simply a negotiating tactic. The Herald did not know whether Majbri also resigned. Even this one resignation will create problems for Serraj as he attempts to meet the deadline tonight. The Libyan Political Agreement required the announcement to have been made last Saturday but the Presidential Council unilaterally extended the time for formation of the GNA by 48 hours.

The Herald claims that the number of ministries in the GNA may be reduced. As of this morning (January 18) there were reported to be 11 ministries: Planning, finance, interior, local government and foreign affairs would be held by people from the west, defence, economy and industry, labour and social affairs by appointees from the east and education, health and justice run by southerners.Press inquiries to Serraj's team in Tunis have not been answered. Apparently, eastern region officials are demanding that Haftar remain as commander of the Libyan National Army. The LPA actually requires that his position be assumed by the GNA presidency council back on December 17, 2015, when the LPA was signed. This has never happened. The resignation of Ali Gitrani may be related to a perceived failure of the present LPA to guarantee the continuation of Haftar in his position.

On Sunday, Martin Kobler, the head of the UNSMIL visited Agila Salah in the eastern city of Shahat to gain support for the GNA and enable the GNA to announce its formation. Kobler claimed in a press conference after the meeting that Salah confirmed he still supported the LPA and GNA. Salah had a somewhat different narrative. Salah claimed that before the GNA could be recognized there must be a resolution amending the constitutional declaration. There is a provision requiring this in the LPA although it does not set out when the amendment should be passed.

On Alnabaa TV, Salah said: "As usual, he (Kobler) game to push for the national concord, but we told him that the constitutional declaration must be amended first by a majority of two-thirds of the parliament.We explained to him that this government was not given a vote of confidence. Its acts are meaningless."The reporting is from the Libya Observer which is pro-GNC and against the GNA and HoR. The Observer also claimed Salah said there must be a Libya-Libya dialogue and the GNC must be part of the solution. This story contradicts recent reports that Salah now supports the GNA. Certainly he has not been publicly involved in any aspects of the Libya-Libya dialogue lately. The Observer also claims it was Kobler, not the GNA Presidency Council, who had ordered the 48 hour extension of the deadline. We will know by early tomorrow if there is another extension before the GNA is announced.

UPDATE: The Libya Herald now reports that among the reasons that Al-Gatrani resigned was that he had been assured there would be no changes to the military with Haftar remaining in command of the LNA. Some ambassadors are suggesting that some members of the GNA may not have read the text of the LPA as released today. They no doubt read it but Kobler may have assured them that Hafter would stay and he did so to ensure they would join the GNA. Now he is suffering the consequences. Kobler has already let the GNA violate the LPA since December 17th by allowing Haftar to stay on the job. They have good reason to think he will do anything to ensure that the GNA comes into being.

GNA announcement postponed for two days after deadline missed

According to the terms of the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) signed on December 17 in Skhirat, Morocco, the Government of National Accord(GNA) must be formed and its political program presented to the House of Representatives by midnight tonight.

The Libya Herald reports the announcement of the formation of the GNA has been postponed for 48 hours or two days. This violates the terms of the LPA. It is hardly a surprise that there is a rumour that the Libya Dialogue team who signed the LPA insisted that if there were no government chosen by the deadline, the present Presidential Council would be sacked and a new group chosen.

The membership of the Presidency Council is described in Article 8 of the LPA together with its functions. The latest text available is from July of last year. Since then, the membership has been enlarged. No text of the agreement signed in Skhirat back on December 17th at Skhirat has been made available on the UN website. The failure of the GNA to meet the LPA deadline has not yet been announced on the website.

The designated Prime Minister of the GNA, Faiez Serraj, announced the postponement shortly after the deadline was missed at midnight. He simply said the Council had given itself another two days to complete its task. There is nothing in the LPA that allows such an extension that I have seen. Serraj makes no reference to anything in the agreement that would allow this. There have been rumors about rows within the group over the names of ministers and deputies, the latest being about who would become foreign minister.

The Council has been meeting in the Residence Hotel in the Tunis resort of Gammarth. According to the various politicians and mayors gathering there, the government will consist of the nine-member Presidency Council, plus 22 ministers plus another 44 deputy ministers. The legislature is the former HoR or House of Representatives. The resulting 75 members are split equally between the three main areas of Libya: Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan in the south. The heads of 17 state institutions including the key Central Bank and National Oil Corporation also have to be appointed.

A politician waiting hopefully to be appointed to a top ministerial post said: “It’s like a father at the hospital waiting for his wife to give birth, not knowing if it is going to be a son or a daughter. Except in this case we don’t know if the infant is going to be born damaged or with little chance of survival – or maybe stillborn.”Even if it is born during the next 48 hours, it still will begin to breathe and its term start, only after it receives a vote of confidence in the HoR. This must happen within 10 days. The last four times it has met it has failed to achieve a quorum.

Turkey arranges meeting with president of GNC and prime minister designate of new Libyan GNA

The UN-brokered Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) will actually be in power only after a vote of confidence by the internationally-recognized House of Representatives (HoR) Libyan government based in Tobruk in the east of Libya.

A rival government is based in Tripoli in the west, the General National Congress (GNC). While the GNA still is in the process of formation, nevertheless officials designated in the UN's last draft of the Libya Political Agreement(LPA), that sets the parameters for the government, regularly meet with important officials from other countries. The officials have been acting as if the GNA exists and their positions confirmed long before the LPA was even signed. The agreement was never approved by either rival government and still has not been. The LPA requires it be approved by the HoR and the deadline for signing of January 27 is fast approaching. Recent meetings of the HoR have failed to reach a quorum and so have failed to vote on the GNA.

On Monday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with Faiez Serraj, the prime minister designate of the GNA government. The meeting was intended to indicate the strong support of Turkey for the GNA government. The two leaders were reported to have discussed ways to increase stability, fight terrorism, and provide support for the Libyan people, including how to build up institutions. Libya has had two main rival governments for some time but many areas are in fact ruled by local militias who are often a law unto themselves. The Islamic State has also established a firm foothold in the coastal city of Sirte, ironically Gadaffi's home town. The group has launched attacks in several areas including on nearby oil ports. Once the GNA has a vote of confidence from the HoR, it will be the sole recognized government, replacing the HoR. However the HoR remains as the legislature in the new government.

Aawsat reports that Nouri Abusahmain, the president of the General National Congress, is to travel to Istanbul to meet with Serraj. Up until now Abusahmain has rejected the GNA and promoted a dialogue among Libyans without foreign interference to come up with a solution to the political crisis. This project has been weakened since the president of the HoR, Ageela Salah, abandoned the project and is now said to support the GNA.

The Turkish mediation is apparently being aided by the designated representative from Cyrenaica for the GNA , Mohammed Zayed, who is said to have played a key role in convincing Abusahmain to come to Instabul for the meeting. Turkey is seen as more supportive of the GNC, which has a strong Islamist component, than other countries such as Egypt and the Arab League, who support Haftar and the HoR.

However, the GNC president sees the GNA as imposed by foreign interests and is concerned about the role of General Haftar and other former Gadaffi military officials in the Libya National Army(LNA). Serraj will need to convince Abusahmain that Haftar will not be commander in chief of the LNA once the GNA is formed. According to the LPA, this role will immediately go to senior officials of the GNA and Haftar will be relieved of his position, but many of the pro-Haftar members of the GNA think otherwise. As I wrote in a recent article, the status of Haftar in the new government is far from clear even though it is crucial to the success of the GNA that he be sidelined.

GNA officials visit Zliten IS attack site but face opposition

Faiez Sirraj, prime minister designate of the UN-supported Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, visited Zliten on Friday to offer condolences to families of the victims of the recent IS attack on a Zliten police academy.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in which a truck loaded with explosives was detonated as recruits carried out morning exercises. Around 50 were killed according to the latest estimates. Even as Serraj, with several other members of the nine-member Presidency Council, arrived at Misrata airport under tight security measures there were some signs of trouble ahead as there were protesters outside the airport who expressed rejection of the visit, which they characterized as political propaganda on behalf of the GNA. The GNA has not been approved by either of the two rival parliaments as yet.

The GNA must gain a vote of approval from the internationally-recognized House of Representatives(HoR) before its term can begin. There have already been four meetings of the HoR. They have all failed to vote on the issue because they have lacked a quorum.

Accounts of the trip and what happened before the group finally flew back to Tunis vary. The Libya Observer, which supports the rival General National Congress(GNC) government, claims the delegation left the airport at Misrata secretly through a back door. It was able to safely travel to Zliten where the group offered condolences to the families of those killed in the attack. However, as news of the arrival spread, armed protesters began to gather and blocked the city's entrance in anger. While some militias support the GNA others consider it a government imposed by foreign interests and oppose it. The Addafniya checkpoint in Misrata was also closed. Even in Tripoli armed brigades were stationed at the eastern Tajoura suburb as rumours spread that the Sirraj convoy was escaping from Zliten to Tripoli.

As the situation got worse, officials from the GNC government tried to calm the protesters. Spokesperson for the government Mohamed Ismail said the GNC officials reached an agreement with the protesters to avoid bloodshed and let the convoy return to Misrata. The delegation managed to leave Libya safely through the Misrata airport. The Observer also claimed that an ambulance loaded with explosives was blown up by a suicide bomber after being chased by security forces. There were no reports of casualties. The Libya Herald also reports on the incident. The Libya Herald also reported that the Serraj delegation was back in Tunis after "an eventful flying visit to Zliten". Another report gives a rather different version of events from the Oberserver:

On their way back to the airport, the delegation was forced to turn around at Dafnia checkpoint – just west of Misrata – as the road was closed due to fighting. “We heard shooting at a distance”, vice PM Mussa al-Koni told Libya Channel. Sources on the ground said the clashes were between forces backing the GNA and others opposing it.

Division in Libyan GNA government over role of CIA-linked General Haftar

The pro-GNC Libya Observer reports that there are already disagreements about the role of CIA-linked General Khalifa Haftar in the UN-supported Government of National Accord (GNA) that is still in the process of formation.

Designated senior officials, the presidential council, led by Faeiez Sirraj, met in Tunis recently. The terms of the Libya Political Agreement (LPA) are that the role of commander-in-chief of the Libya National Army currently held by CIA-linked Khalifa Haftar will be carried out by senior officials of the GNA rather than Haftar. Yet the Libya Observer now reports:

Sources said a dispute broke out between the council members over the leadings positions in the government. Council members Ali Al-Gotrani and Fathi Al-Mijibri, both in favor of Haftar, are insisting that the latter must remain in his position as "commander-in-chief of the army", and threatened to quit the council if this was not guaranteed. While other members think Haftar is a controversial character and his role would violate the concord according to the political agreement.

Idriss Omran, a Tobruk Parliament member, confirmed to Karama TV that both council members Al-Gotrani and Al Mijibri walked out of the meeting of the presidential council during debate on leading positions. Omran said Kobler telephoned them and promised to address the issue. The Libya Herald, which is often pro-UN and pro-HoR, reports nothing of what is happening. So far only the Libya Observer has reported on the matter in English. In a long article in the Libya Herald about what Kobler is doing to promote the GNA, there is no mention of Haftar or the divisions within the recent meetings. This is typical of the UN. Ignore any facts that do not promote the UN agenda.

Omran went even further and said the negotiations at the presidential council are making no progress. This is not surprising since the GNC members are mortal enemies of Haftar and no doubt saw the GNA as a way of sidelining him. The UN on other hand, whatever it is up to, has managed to keep him quiet and the Libya Herald has even said Haftar supports the GNA. If he does, how is it that the HoR, which he controls, still has not approved the GNA? It could have met today and voted but it appears nothing has happened. Omran claims that if Haftar is not kept on as commander-in-chief of the Libyan Armed Forces then eastern members will suspend their membership. The majority in the HoR who the UN says support the GNA also support it only on condition that Haftar remain as commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army. If he does stay on, then Kobler can forget about any cooperation from the GNC members or the Libya Dawn militia, the main armed forces of the GNC. Kobler apparently wants the regular armed forces to protect the GNA in Tripoli. I am sure Haftar's forces will receive a warm welcome from Libya Dawn if they go to Tripoli.

There are all sorts of reports of the Islamic State attacks on the oil terminal at El Sidre. These attacks are being repelled not by the Libyan National Army and Haftar but by the militia guards led by Ibrahim Jodran. There appears to be sharp division between he and Haftar as reported by the Libya Observer, which favors the General National Congress (GNC) government in Tripoli most of the time. Jodran reported that seven of his fighters had been killed in Monday in clashes with IS or Daesh fighters around the El Sidra port: He spoke out against Haftar:

Speaking in Barga TV last night, he praised his forces' victory over IS and lashed out at Khalifa Haftar, saying he and Daesh are two sides of the same coin. "I call my people in Benghazi and Barga for unity. Our enemy is not Daesh only, but also those who are planning to bring back dictatorship and military rule. The so-called the General Command and its supporters are also enemies to all Libyans."Relations between the two have been strained since September, when Jodran accused Haftar of trying to kill him. Don't expect any UN press release talking about issues such as this. At least one would expect some response from sources such as the Libyan Herald. Observer releases are often slanted against the HoR and Haftar but at the same time the Observer often reports items which those against the GNC would like to remain hidden. The reports on the Tunis meeting come from an HoR source, and hence are at least plausible.