26 August – 1 September: PM Serraj suspends MoI Bashaagha

Sep 2, 2020 | Libyan actors

On 28 August, Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister and head of the Presidency Council (PC) Fayez al-Serraj announced that he was suspending Interior Minister Fathi Bashaagha and called for an investigation of Bashaagha’s handling of street protests. Serraj said the investigation of Bashaagha would occur within 72 hours; meanwhile, his duties would be assumed by a deputy minister, Khalid Mazen. Bashaagha responded in a statement by expressing readiness for an investigation but said it should be televised to ensure transparency.

Serraj’s announcement coincided with a series of other decrees, including one granting the Zintani-dominated Joint Security Force the responsibility to secure Tripoli; one promoting Deputy Minister of Defence Saleh al-Din Namroush to Minister of Defence and one appointing Central Military Region Commander Mohammed Haddad as the new Chief of Staff (CoS).