Head of State Council of GNA allegedly target of attack at Abu Grain

The State Council of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) condemned an alleged attack on its president Abdulrahman Sewehli while visiting Abu Grain, south of Misrata. Abu Grain was recently recaptured from the Islamic State (IS).

Sewehli went there to be briefed on operations against IS. In a statement the State Council demanded that those involved should be punished. The Council said those responsible were not part of the anti-IS operation.

As often happens in Libya, there are conflicting reports about what actually happened. One report claims that Sewehli's convoy was met by the one of the Misratan militias involved in the offensive against IS, Operation Bunyan Marsous, the Aasar militia. The commander, Ibrahim Rafaida, verbally attacked Sewehli over the lack of support that the militia were being given by authorities in Tripoli. During a heated argument Rafaida was said to have slapped Sewehli. A fight developed between the Aasar group and Sewehli's body guards. Sewehil was accompanied by Brigadier Bashir Al-Gadi of the operations room. Sewehli and Gadi were said to be overpowered and beaten. One of the bodyguards was said to be shot in the leg and one of the vehicles in the convoy destroyed. However, they managed to escape with Sewehli being helicoptred out to Misrata and then back to Tripoli.

Rafaida is described as an Islamist militant, sympathetic to Ansar Al-Sharia, as well as the Shura Council of Benghazi. He is said to have been formerly close to Sewehli. In spite of these reports and with the Council launching an investigation into the incident, Seweli's own media office denies the incident even happened. It has said instead that there were clashes with the IS as he arrived in which one vehicle was destroyed, but no one hurt. Why the narratives are so different is hard to fathom. The IS are supposed to have been driven from the area several days ago.

Sewehli is strongly opposed to Haftar and worries about former supporters of Gadaffi being part of the new GNA, although some members of the GNA, such as the defense minister, are part of the Libyan National Army that Haftar commands. However, he is an opponent of Haftar. Sewehli's son was recently kidnapped.

Sewehli has many enemies but mostly among opponents of Islamists and supporters of Haftar's Operation Dignity. Back on March 3 of 2014, he was shot while a member of parliament but by members of the Zintan brigades loyal to Haftar. CNN reported that at least two members of Libya's General National Congress were shot and wounded after protesters stormed its headquarters:One of the congressmen, Abdul Rahman Sweihli, was shot in the leg after protesters opened fire on him inside the building. As his security detail rushed him out, gunmen opened fire on their cars as they were trying to flee, his son Bashir Sweihli told CNN.

Another son, Ahmed, tweeted recently: "Swehli shot in foot-2yrs ago by Zintan militia storming GNC Tripoli.Just reminding @libyaherald @HESHAM_LIBYA_FR"

Press conference of Martin Kobler Special Representative of Secretary General in Libya

After a meeting with members of the State Council of the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, Martin Kobler, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) held a press conference.

Excerpts from the conference are published on the website of the United Nations Support Mission in LIbya (UNSMIL). Kobler starts out by expressing condolences to those who lost relatives in the recent offensive of Misrata militia groups against the Islamic State east and south of Misrata. However, he uses the losses to argue how "urgent the situation here in Libya to come to an agreement on how to implement the Libyan Political Agreement and to go the way of peace and prosperity in this country." Notice he cannot bother to be specific about who is to come to agreement with whom but adds in the emotively useful phrase "peace and prosperity." He uses a tragic loss to press for his own political agenda of having everyone unite behind the GNA.

Kobler stresses the importance of implementing the Libya Political Agreement (LPA), noting that all the ministers at the recent Vienna meeting agreed on this:The Libyan political agreement needs three strong institutions, the Presidency Council, the House of Representatives and the State Council. We had very good, very extensive, and very frank discussions on these questions. It is important that these institutions go ahead to serve the people, to provide them food, to provide them electricity and to pass the necessary laws for it because also Ramdan is right in front of the table and there are many economic problems here in the country.

However, it makes no sense of talking about the HoR going ahead as part of the GNA since it does not recognize the GNA and will not until it has taken a formal vote of confidence and amended the constitutional declaration of 2011. Kobler mentions the necessity of the passing of an amendment to the constitutional declaration. He recognizes in effect the State Council is not yet legal, although he does not exactly put it that way. The State Council can fully function only if the constitutional amendment is passed in its entirety. In addition, the House of Representatives has to pass the Constitutional Amendment in order to give full strength to the SC here in Tripoli. Of course, there are different perceptions now in the country about the State Council and as United Nations and as a member of the international community I would like to assist both State Council and the House of Representatives and others in order to bring the different views together.Note that Kobler says that the State Council "cannot fully function" unless the amendment is "passed in its entirety." Of course Kobler does not clarify why the State Council cannot fully do its job without the amendment or if he thinks that the amendment has been partially passed. Probably he is referring to the fact that at a meeting of the State Council, it convened first as the rival parliament to Tobruk the General National Congress (GNC) and passed the required amendment to the constitutional declaration and then voted in favor of the GNA before dissolving itself and transforming the meeting to one of the State Council. Perhaps this is to be thought of as a "partial amendment" to the declaration that now needs to be amended in its entirety by the HoR. Kobler says he needs to bring Libyans together as the HoR.and supporters have some of those " different perceptions now in the country" about the Council. Among these perceptions are that the process of establishing the State Council was illegal. The Council, a mainly advisory body is composed of former members of the General National Congress, including many Islamists opposed by the HoR and Haftar, commander in chief of the associated Libyan National Army.

Kobler says that the State Council and the HoR are like twins. The problem is that the HoR already exists and up to now has shown no desire to be reborn as the GNA legislature until the GNA mother agrees that the father of the HoR, Khalifa Haftar, be given proper recognition as the commander in the chief of any new Libyan National Army(LNA).

Kobler says that politics, not military developments on the ground, should determine guidelines for the way forward: "That’s why it is very important that the politicians sit together, members of the State Council and members of the HoR; the presidents of both, SC and HoR, together with the Prime Minister to tackle the very urgent problems in the country." This appears to recognize the HoR as a partner, yet it is a parallel institution no longer supposed to be recognized or to be dealt with according to what was urged at the Vienna meetings. Whether, Kobler likes it or not the military situation on the ground will be an important factor in bargaining between Haftar and the HoR and the UN-backed GNA. Kobler and the GNA know this, which is why exemptions to the arms embargo will only apply to forces loyal to the GNA and not Haftar. Haftar has ways of getting weapons without the embargo being lifted however.

Kobler claims the military situation can only be tackled by "united Libyans." This is simply not true. The situation is being tackled even though not efficiently without unity. What bothers Kobler is that Haftar is fighting on his own terms attacking Derna, securing oil fields, and clearing out pockets of Islamist resistance in Benghazi. Kobler wants him to attack the main stronghold of Sirte but so far Haftar has not. Kobler never mentions Haftar by name.

Kobler claims Libya's main problem is fragmentation and division. It could never be that this is in part caused by his own single-minded attempt to impose the GNA on many who resist it and see it as a foreign imposition. Of course he simply rejects such "perceptions":The Political developments must be much faster and the political dialogue among all political stakeholders is a must. I also requested from the members of the State Council to give me ideas what they expect from the international community. We are here to support you, not to replace your decisions. This is Libya. These are your institutions, and this is your agreement, and these must be your decisions and we are here to help you and to support you.

As Kobler himself said many times the time for dialogue is long over and that the LPA cannot be amended. By dialogue he means talks that using threats or rewards convinces those opposed to support the LNA. If you don't agree the international community will help you and support you by imposing sanctions on you, or making sure you do not get any arms legally. In answer to a question Kobler said: Our task is to stop the bloodletting and to sit together. It is very clear that the weapons embargo is on all over the country, everybody must respect this weapons embargo. Now you have the Presidency Council and a very clear guideline that the Government of National Accord will be in place and that the Presidency Council is the Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army. Regular forces under the leadership of the Presidency Council can be exempted from the weapons embargo of the United Nations. This process has to be expedited. The PC issued already some decisions concerning the operation centre, but also concerning the structure of the future Libyan Army, and all stakeholders must be reflected in this joint Libyan army.Kobler made it clear that these "regular forces" would come from all areas of Libya. As it is now, the GNA depends upon militia for security. Khalifa Haftar has made it clear that he will never unite with militia groups. Even if some of them were to meld into the regular forces it is doubtful if Haftar would unite with them. Note that Kobler explicitly states that the PC is Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army, a feature of the LPA that the PC studiously ignored since just a while ago. Haftar and the HoR reject the sections of the LPA which give the PC this power.

Kobler presents no plan for having the HoR approve the GNA and pass the amendment. He did not suggest when and where a meeting should be. A planned meeting at Ghadames did not take place. I expect that Kobler will try again to gather together members of the HoR without those opposed to the GNA. However, even those in favor demand that Haftar remain as commander-in-chief.

TV address of Libyan PM-designate Faiez Serraj of the Government of National Accord

In a pre-recorded TV address, Faiez Serraj, PM-designate of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA), gave a mainly upbeat talk about the progress of the GNA in Tripoli.

Almost a month after his entry into Tripoli, Serraj noted that the entry was peaceful and without any bloodshed. He outlined the achievements and plans of the Presidential Council and the GNA. The GNA so far consists of some but not all members of the Presidential Council headquartered at the Bu Sitta Naval Base in Tripoli. The State Council, a mainly advisory body, composed of former members of the rival General National Congress (GNC), parliament has been formed and has occupied the former headquarters of the GNC. As yet the GNA has no legislature because there has been no formal vote on the GNA by the House of Representatives (HoR) based in Tobruk. The HoR does not recognize the GNA as yet. The Libya Herald reports Serraj as saying that the HoR should "complete its commitment as the only legitimate legislature in the country," referring to its failure to vote on the GNA. There have been numerous meetings of the HoR to vote on the GNA but all have been without a quorum or have been disrupted with no vote taking place.

There has been talk of the HoR convening in another location. This happened before but no meeting took place outside of Tobruk. This time some members are already gather at Ghadames according to a recent tweet: "‏@LibyaschannelEN #HoR members arriving in #Ghadames. MP Salah Zubik told us 2 days ago that #GNA vote is scheduled for next Wednesday."

Serraj claimed that the PC and Council were "working tirelessly to complete the commitments of the Libya Political Agreement and that the time for talk and argumentation was over." Given the actions of the HoR government under PM al-Thinni and commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army, Khalifa Haftar, Serraj may be forced into more talks.

The eastern government tried to illegally export oil through the breakaway eastern branch of the National Oil Company(NOC). The Indian-flagged tanker Distya Ameya was unable to dock in Malta and appears now to be headed back to the GNA-controlled port of Zawiya in western Libya, according to Nagi al-Maghrabi, who chairs the eastern-based NOC. He said the situation was "a legal issue and we will work on it" and that he would continue to fight for the right of the eastern-based NOC to export oil. While the GNA is likely to be able to win on this issue, another conflict with the east and Haftar may be more difficult and the GNA may not win. As with many opponents of Haftar and commentators, Serraj cannot bring himself to use his name. It does not appear in his article.

Haftar has been moving towards Sirte to liberate it along with other units of the LNA from the south-east:Serraj said that they have called upon the GNA’s defence minister to put in place a plan and form a unified command that includes all forces from all over Libya to liberate Sirte from IS, scuppering separate plans by the various forces to act unilaterally.It is not clear that a mere announcement by the GNA will "scupper plans" of Haftar and his forces and the HoR government. The GNA may need force or the threat of force to bring Haftar on board. Alternatively, he may need to talk to him, even though the time for talk is supposed to be over.

The Libya Observer also remarks on Haftar's move toward's Sirte and says it is seen as political opportunism. The Observer describes the response of the GNA's PC to the issue:The Presidential Council (PC) of the UN-proposed government has called on all military forces to wait for the appointment of a joint leadership for the liberation of Sirte from IS, asking them all to unite under the command of the PC as being the Chief Commander of Army according to Skhirat agreement.Finally after months, the PC notices that it is the Commander in Chief of the Army according to the political agreement. Up until now they have not noticed that in fact Khalifa Haftar continues to play that role and he has not indicated he is about to go back into retirement.

Serraj says that he will not allow the battle for liberation of Sirte to be used for political leverage or personal gain. Of course, Serraj and the PC have decided that their own political leverage and their control of the military is more important than the liberation of Sirte, otherwise they would welcome Haftar's move and immediately seek cooperation and coordination.

Libyan General National Congress claims it still exists but seems to have no power

The former rival of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR) and the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA), the General National Congress (GNC), claims it is still alive and functioning.

The statement did not say where the GNC was meeting or who was still involved in the parliament and the associated Salvation government. Last week, a militia loyal to the GNA and its State Council took over the headquarters of the GNC at the RIxos hotel and offices of the GNC across the street. There was no resistance from the guards loyal to the GNC. The statement condemned the takeover of its headquarters by the State Council. The group asked the Supreme Court to intervene and rule on the legality of the State Council and the Political Agreement. Nothing is likely to happen. Without any supporting militia the GNC group lacks any power to enforce any of its demands.

The statement from the GNC ordered the "National Salvation Government" headed by Khalifa Ghwell, who is under EU sanctions, to continue working and insisted it was the only legitimate Libyan legislature. The GNA has been taking over all the former ministries of the GNC apparently without resistance. One of the ministries previously issued a report that the GNC was dissolved. There does not seem to be any Salvation government left to continue work.

A meeting of the GNA State Council some time ago was also described during its first stages as the last meeting of the GNC. As the GNC, the meeting approved the GNA and amended the constitutional declaration of 2011. It then dissolved itself and became the State Council. A rival meeting of the GNC at its headquarters with its president denounced the State Council meeting and declared it illegal.

The whereabouts of the president of the GNC Nuri Abusahmain is not known. He has not been seen nor heard from since the State Council took over his headquarters and offices. He may be trying to return to his home town of Zuwara, near the Tunisian border. One report claims he has been smuggled back into Zuwara.

While the GNA appears to have been successful in wresting power from the GNC, the same is not true of the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR). The Libyan National Army (LNA) under General Khalifa Haftar continues to support the HoR, which has so far refused to vote confidence in the GNA or relinquish power. It has even tried to export oil independently from the Tripoli-based National Oil Company. Haftar has received a large shipment of vehicles and ammunition and is now marching towards Sirte, the stronghold of the Islamic State.

It remains to be seen whether along the way he secures the oil ports and ensures they are not used by the GNA. There are reports that Ibrahim Jodhran, who heads the Petroleum Facility Guards has been fired and replaced by a new HoR appointee. The GNC may be faced with a situation where the HoR government takes over more territory and gains control over more resources.

GNA State Council takes over headquarters and offices of rival General National Assembly

Abdulrahman Sewehli, president of the State Council of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA), has taken over control of the Rixos Hotel complex including the conference hall used by the General National Congress (GNC).

He also took control of buildings across the street that were used as accommodation and offfices by the president of the GNC, Nuri Abusahmain. The takeover shows the power of the GNC and the associated Salvation Government has been reduced to almost nothing. The State Council had met in Tripoli in early April, declaring itself the GNC. After passing a resolution in support of the GNA and amending the constitutional declaration of 2011, it dissolved the GNC supposedly and then met as the State Council. Sewehli was elected president. The president of the GNC was not present. The actual GNC met later at its headquarters and denounced the rival meeting. However, it appears that the GNC might as well have been actually dissolved since it appears to have no power and has now lost its headquarters without any resistance.

There were militia loyal to Abusahmain guarding the buildings. However, they put up no resistance and the road between the two buildings is now open. Abusahmain's whereabouts are not known but he is thought to be still in Tripoli. Abusahmain made a statement condemning the takeover. He said militia loyal to Sewehli arrived at the headquarters early Friday morning. The defenders allowed them to seize the complex because they wanted to avoid bloodshed, according to Abusahmain. The head of security at the Rixos facilities, Omar Al-Ramli gave a similar account of events.

Other events show the continuing decline of the power of the Salvation government and the GNC. Already several ministries have been handed over to the GNA. The Transport Ministry has now been handed over to the PC of the GNA. Labour, Religious Endowments, Education, Housing, Utilities, Youth and Sports, and Social Affairs ministries have all been transferred to the Presidential Council. The Libyan Central Bank is cooperating with the GNA. If the employees at the ministries expect to be paid, they are much better off associating with the GNA. The transfers are taking place in spite of the fact that the GNA has never been given a vote of confidence by the House of Representatives. Under the regulations of the Libyan Political Agreement its term has not yet even begun. However, the GNA has bypassed any vote so far and has regarded a meeting of the Libyan Political Committee and a letter from an alleged majority of the HoR approving the GNA as a green light to start operations and even move to Tripoli. Although foreign affairs and interior ministries have not been turned over officially they are said to be already being run by Mohamed Siala and Arif Khojia respectively, who were appointed to run them.

The Libyan news agency LANA which was formerly loyal to the GNC Salvation government now supports the GNC and the PC. The ministers will be sworn in once all ministries are under GNA control. According to the Libya Herald the State Council considers itself now the country's legislature:Meanwhile, in a move that is likely to be the cause of future conflict, the State Council, likewise yet to be approved by the House of Representatives, has taken over the former General National Congress buildings, presenting itself as the country’s legislature.According to the terms of the LPA the House of Representatives (HoR) is the sole legislative body of the GNA. The State Council is primarily an advisory body. That the State Council should claim legislative powers is in contradiction to the agreement. Members of the HoR will be outraged by this claim if it is true.

The strategy of the UNSMIL in Libya

The UN has one overriding aim in Libya: to create a unity government or Government of National Accord (GNA) which can then ask for military aid to fight the Islamic State, and for help to deal with migration to Europe.

The first phase of UN strategy was to convene a Libyan Political Dialogue of various stakeholders including representatives of the two rival governments. The former internationally recognized government is the House of Representatives (HOR) based in Tobruk in the east of Libya. The rival government is the Tripoli or Salvation government of the General National Congress (GNC) based in Tripoli. The scheme was to have dialogue members come up with a Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) which would then be approved by both parliaments.

The former UN Special Envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, was able to come up with what he regarded as a final draft of the LPA, which also included the outline of the GNA. However, Leon was never able to have the LPA passed through either parliament. Had he been able to do so, the two rival governments would have voluntarily handed over power to the GNA. It would have been a voluntary regime change from the HoR and GNC to GNA.

When Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Martin Kobler, took over for Leon. he also failed to get either legislature to approve the LPA. However, there must be a GNA and so Kobler gathered together all those representatives from the Dialogue who supported the LPA and had them sign the LPA in Skhirat, Morocco, on December 17 last year. Those who signed from the two rival governments had no authorization to do so. Now there is forced regime change at the stroke of a pen, so to speak. The UN Security Council supported the move along with the international community as a great leap forward. One problem remaining was that the HoR had to give a vote of confidence in the GNA before its term began according to the terms of the LPA.

The UN and the GNA have so far been unable to get this vote. Yet the GNA must go on. Instead of getting the vote, Kobler noted that after one failed meeting a letter approving the GNA was allegedly signed by a majority of the GNA. This letter, together with the alleged blessing of ,members of the Dialogue that Kobler convened, gave the GNA the go-ahead to announce its birth. The UN still noted that the HoR should give a vote of confidence but carried on without it. However, a recent meeting in the east with military commanders and others threatened to separate eastern Libya — Cyrenaica — from the rest of the country unless certain demands were met, including keeping Haftar as the head of the army. Two sections 8 of the LPA, as it is at present, require that the Presidency Council of the GNA take on Haftar's position as commander-in-chief of the Libyan National Army. Suddenly, it became important the HoR vote again.

Another reason why the HoR must decide to support the GNA is that it is the legislature of the GNA. It also approves some of the appointments of the Presidency Council. What could the GNA do without the HoR? One possible solution is found in the recent meeting of the State Council, a mainly advisory body of the GNA composed of GNC members. The GNC does not recognize the State Council. The members were chosen by Makhzoum, who was one of the unauthorized signers of the LPA. He was expelled by the GNC some time ago. The LPA says that Abusahmain, the president of the GNC, should present the list. But he and the GNC do not recognize the GNA so of course he did not send any names. The UN solution was just to have someone who does agree to make up the list — Makzhoum — to do so even though this violates the LPA.

The GNA decided that this State Council could also be the GNC. It convened a meeting in a Tripoli hotel at which the State Council during the first part magically transformed itself into the GNC. It passed a resolution that supported the GNA, amended the constitutional declaration of 2011, and then dissolved itself and became a meeting of the State Council. The actual GNC met and declared the other meeting illegal, but how many militia does it control now?

You might wonder how the amendment to the constitution could have any validity when passed by the GNC. In 2014 the Libyan Supreme Court held that the elections that led to the HoR were unconstitutional and the legislature should be dissolved. This leaves the GNC and the associated Salvation government as the one legitimate Libyan government. If the legitimate government's legislature amends the constitutional declaration that is all that is needed. The LPA claims it should be the HoR but it turns out that the HoR is not the legitimate government after all and it is the GNC that can do the amending.

Now the way is open for a new UN strategy should the GNA fail to get a vote of confidence and amendment from the HoR. The UN can simply gather together all those who support the GNA from within the HoR and have them meet in Tripoli as the legislature of the GNA, a reborn HoR just as there was a reborn GNC. Before they are reborn they could say they are the old HoR because after all they are a majority of it supposedly. They can then pass a motion to support the GNA and become the HoR of the GNA legislature. The actual HoR could call this all illegal as the GNC did with the State Council meeting. In this case the HoR might be backed by Khalifa Haftar and the LNA. If this happens we might see Cyrenaica separate. Tomorrow we will see if the HoR has a quorum and a vote. If everything is passed without any problem the strategy discussed here will not be necessary.

GNA State Council meets in Tripoli pretends to be GNC dissolves itself and becomes State Council after approving GNA

The State Council of the UN-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) met today in Tripoli. It called itself the General National Congress (GNC) and then dissolved itself to be reborn the State Council of the GNA.

The usually pro-GNC Libya Observer notes that a number of members of the GNC held a meeting that they described as the first meeting of the State Supreme Council of the GNA. The Council's function is described in article 19 of the Skhirat LPA of December 17. It is mostly an advisory body. The only legislative powers in the GNA are those of the House of Representatives (HoR). The makeup of the Council is described in Annex 3 p. 26:

The State Council shall comprise one hundred and forty five (145) members who were elected during the General National Congress elections on 7 July 2012 as per the following:1. One hundred and thirty four (134) male and female members of the General National Congress who enjoy sound membership at the signing this Agreement. The Presidency of the General National Congress shall submit a list containing the names of those members.

Note that the President of the GNC is to submit the list of names for the Council. There was a slight problem. The GNC has not accepted the LPA and Sahmain the president would not send a list. The solution was to enlist former Deputy Speaker Saleh Al-Makhzoum to draw up a list. The list was accepted and the PC the UN and everyone who counts accepted the resulting group as the Council even though this violates the terms of the LPA. Makhzoum also signed on to the Skhirat agreement even though he was not authorized to do so and was not part of the GNC negotiating committee. He and a number of others in the Council have been expelled from the GNC. These are just trifling illegalities of no importance.

The Council Session with 70 members present was held at the Radisson Blu hotel in Tripoli. The actual GNC met later at the GNC headquarters in Tripoli. The Observer notes:The session, which was described also by the attendants as “the final session of the GNC, was put to effect by the second Deputy Speaker of the GNC, Saleh Al-Makhzoum, in which all of the attendants voted unanimously on amending the constitutional declaration and including the political agreement.

This is a supposed meeting of the GNC called by Al-Makhzoum who was expelled from the GNC some time ago. The president of the GNC is not even there and the meeting is in a hotel because the actual GNC will not allow them to use the GNC headquarters. The actual GNC session said the hotel meeting was illegal. They decided to send the issue of the LPA to the judiciary.

Considering that the Libya Herald is often opposed to the GNC it has a quite critical report of the meeting. The Herald mentions that the meeting was at first chaired by Makhzoum and was held in the Radisson hotel because the headquarters of the GNC was still held by Sahmain and his supporters. The Herald quote Makhzoum as saying that 94 members were there but also noted that there were only 67 who were present in the hall. The Herald describes events after the unanimous vote on the constitutional amendment and GNA:In what appeared very much as a stage-managed event, after Makhzoum announced the end of the GNC, the GNC logo behind him was removed and replaced with this of the State Council.

The Herald ends with a statement that shows the entire meeting was illegal since the HoR alone under the terms of the LPA can endorse the agreement and since it has not done so, theoretically the State Council does not exist. One could add that the HoR also needs to pass the constitutional amendment. The State Council does not have the power to pass any legislation even if it does exist. It is an advisory body. These events are bound to result in a negative reaction from the HoR.

Deputy President of the HoR, Emhemed Shouaib, reacted quickly and called on the State Council to show political wisdom. He noted that it was the HoR that needed to vote confidence in the GNA and pass the constitutional amendment: ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen attending the meeting (of the State Council in Tripoli today) tried to pre-empt time and to burn through the various stages (of the LPA) and promoted interpretations and explanations, avoiding the facts of the (Libyan Political) agreement’’. Other members of the HoR and Haftar loyalists may react less diplomatically.