3 October – 9 October: GNA announces new security arrangements in Tripoli

Oct 9, 2018 | Libyan actors

On 6 October, the Government of National Accord (GNA) and its new UN-backed Security Arrangements Committee announced new security arrangements in Tripoli. Some of the Tripoli militia leaders and their armed groups have handed over key positions or checkpoints under their control to units within the Ministry of Interior, while most others either handed over nominal control to the MoI or recycled their roles in different forms.

The Nawasi brigade nominally left Tripoli port while the Special Deterrence Force (Rada) nominally left Mitiga airport, leaving security to ‘regular’ units within a new department called the Vital Facilities Protection Department. Other armed groups under the Tripoli Protection Force coalition have handed over locations to the Public Security and Checkpoints Department led by Zintani Imad Trabilsi in the western region of Tripoli, while others like the Misratan 301 Brigade have retaken control of previously held areas in southern Tripoli.

On 7 October, the Government of National Accord (GNA) announced a reshuffle of its cabinet and assigned several new ministers in a decree signed by the head of the GNA, Fayez al-Serraj. The following changes were made:

  • Misratan Fathi Bashaagha is now the head of the Ministry of Interior, replacing Abdessalam Ashour, who had held the post since February of this year.
  • Ali Issawi, the former Libyan ambassador to India, will replace Nasser el-Derssi as Economy and Industry Minister.
  • Faraj Abdurrahman Boumtari will succeed Usama Hamad as the Finance Minister.
  • Bashir al-Gantri is now the head of the Youth and Sport Ministry.

The GNA’s move has been supported by UNSMIL, which released a statement saying it was ready to “support the new ministers to implement the new security arrangements in the capital Tripoli, to move forward with economic reforms and to seek the unification of Libyan national institutions.”