Abdulhamid Dbeibah, the head of Libya’s National Unity government, visited with citizens of Tripoli, which was rocked by gunfights early Tuesday after forces of the rival Tobruk-based government left following intense fighting between competing militias.
Signs of gunfights in Libya‘s capital were still visible hours after clashes between supporters of two rival administrations.
Residents of Tripoli awoke to sights of devastation in several parts of the city on Tuesday, and children stayed at home after the education ministry stated that schools would remain closed.
Abdulhamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, spoke with residents during the day.
The clashes were sparked by his adversary Fathi Bashagha’s effort to install his government in the capital.
Bashagha arrived in Tripoli early Tuesday with a number of Cabinet ministers. He later withdrew, citing “public security and safety.”
He was selected by Libya’s eastern parliament three months ago. Dbeibah’s mandate had expired, lawmakers claimed, citing his failure to convene presidential elections in December.
Since then, Dbeibah has refused to hand over authority to anyone other than an elected government.
Both guys are from Misrata in western Libya, and they are backed by several armed groups in the capital.
Armed pro-Bashagha forces had already deployed on the outskirts of Tripoli in March, prompting concerns that the truce in effect since October 2020 might be broken.