General National Congress (2014)

General National Congress
المؤتمر الوطني العام
Agraw Amuran Amatay
ⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡ ⴰⵎⵓⵔⴰⵏ ⴰⵎⴰⵜⴰⵢ
4 August 2014
Type
Type
History
Founded 25 August 2014 (2014-08-25)[1]
14 October 2016
Disbanded 5 April 2016 (2016-04-05)[2]
Leadership
Chairman
Vice Chairman
Saleh Makhzoum
Prime Minister
Meeting place
Al Nasr Convention Centre
Tripoli, Libya
Website
en.gnc.gov.ly (in English)
Libya
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Libya

The General National Congress (Arabic: المؤتمر الوطني العام‎‎) was a body formed by politicians from the blocs that lost the June 2014 elections in Libya. The GNC had appointed an alternative government for Libya, styled the National Salvation Government, which was led by Khalifa al-Ghawi. [3] The term Libya Dawn Coalition was used to refer to the armed groups and/or the wider political movement supporting the new GNC. The new GNC was one of the major sides in the ongoing Second Libyan Civil War from its formation August 2014 until its dissolution in April 2016.[2][4]

History

Formation

The General National Congress claimed to be a legitimate continuation of the obsolete General National Congress elected in 2012, but does not represent a majority of the membership of that congress.[5] The majority of the GNC members belonged to groups now participating in the internationally recognized Libyan parliament, the Council of Deputies.[6]

The GNC was dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood's Libyan party, the Justice and Construction Party, and the "Loyalty to Martyrs Bloc" which consists of other smaller groups allied to the Muslim Brotherhood.[6]

Re-elected members from the losing Islamist bloc had chosen to sit in the self-proclaimed GNC, instead of the House of Representatives where they would be in a reduced minority.[7][8]

After their landslide defeat in the 2014 elections dominated by low turnout, Islamist parties acting under the leadership of Nouri Abusahmain used two armed groups, the Libya Revolutionaries Operations Room and Libya Shield Force, to take control of the capital Tripoli.[9] In late August, Islamist militias allegedly abducted rivals (whose whereabouts are unknown) and attacked 280 homes.[10] The GNC has rejected affiliation with any of these activities and it is unknown who the exact perpetrators were with both sides blaming each other. The Islamist groups declared that they were the General National Congress and that it was once again the national parliament.[11]

The self-proclaimed GNC was led, Nouri Abusahmain,[11] and had appointed Omar al-Hassi and Khalifa al-Ghawi as prime ministers.[12] Nouri Abusahmain was formerly president of the GNC which existed from 8 August 2012 to 4 August 2014.

Libyan Political Agreement

Members of the House of Representatives and the General National Congress signed a United Nations supported political agreement on 17 December 2015.[13] Under the terms of the agreement, a nine-member Presidency Council and a seventeen-member interim Government of National Accord would be formed, with a view to holding new elections within two years.[13] The House of Representatives would continue to exist as a legislature and an advisory body, to be known as the State Council, will be formed with members nominated by the New General National Congress. [14]

The Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016. [15] The following day, it was reported that the GNA has taken control of the prime ministerial offices and that the GNC appointed Prime Minister Khalifa al-Ghawi had fled to Misrata. [16] On 1 April 2016, the head of the media bureau of the National Salvation Government announced that the NSG has resigned and handed its authority back to the General National Congress. [17] Media reports have also claimed that the General National Congress had "virtually disintegrated".[18]

On April 5, the National Salvation Government of the General National Congress announced that it was resigning, "ceasing operations," and ceding power to the Presidential Council.[19][20] Following the dissolution of the GNC, former members of that body declared the establishment of the State Council, as envisaged by the LPA.[2]

October 2016 takeover

On 15 October 2016, forces loyal to the GNC took over the building of the High Council of State and announced the comeback of the Ghawil cabinet.[21][22] Then fighting occurred between Sarraj loyalists and Ghawil forces.[23][24]

National Salvation Government

National Salvation Government
حكومة الإنقاذ الوطني
Provisional Government overview
Formed 2014
2016
Dissolved 2016
Jurisdiction Libya
Minister responsible
Website www.facebook.com/GOFNSLY/

The New General National Congress had appointed a body known as the National Salvation Government, as an alternative government for Libya. The NSG was made up of ministers and was led by a prime minister. The members of the NSG resigned on 1 April 2016 [17] and it was formally disbanded 5 April 2016. [19] It reformed on October 2016.

Prime Ministers of the National Salvation Government

Incumbent Office Since Until
Omar al-Hassi Prime Minister of the National Salvation Government 6 September 2014 31 March 2015
Khalifa al-Ghawil 31 March 2015 1 April 2016
14 October 2016 16 March 2017

References

  1. ↑ "August 2014". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "GNC members announce its ”dissolution” and creation of the State Council". Libya Herald. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  3. ↑ "Leaders of Libyan unity govt venture onto Tripoli streets". 1 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016 – via Reuters.
  4. ↑ "Tripoli's National Salvation Government quits - Libyan Express". 5 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Abu Sahmain, Ghariani condemned by Thinni and parliament leader Saleh". Libya Herald. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Libya: The Muslim Brotherhood's Last Stand?". Huffington Post. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "National Congress party results". Libya Herald. 18 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Libya publishes parliamentary election results". Xinhua. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. ↑ "Libya – Democracy's Complex Child". International Business Times. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Tripoli residents face dilemma after Libya Dawn take control of capital". The Guardian. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Libya's ex-parliament reconvenes, appoints Omar al-Hasi as PM". Reuters. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Daragahi, Borzou (31 March 2015). "Tripoli authority sacks prime minister". Financial Times. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  13. 1 2 Kingsley, Patrick (17 December 2015). "Libyan politicians sign UN peace deal to unify rival governments". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  14. ↑ http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2015/12/25/Libyan-deal-on-course-but-who-is-on-board-.html
  15. ↑ "Support grows for Libya's new unity government". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  16. ↑ https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/03/31/rebel-tripoli-administration-vanishes-ghwell-flees-to-misrata/
  17. 1 2 "Tripoli Salvation Government resigns, hands power back to GNC - Libyan Express". 1 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "Op-Ed: Libya Herald report claims that Tripoli government 'vanished'". 1 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Libya's Tripoli Government Says Will 'Cease Operations'". ABC News. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  20. ↑ "Tripoli authorities cede power to Libyan unity government: statement". Yahoo! New Zealand. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  21. ↑ "GNC retakes parliament compound, High Council of State condemns - The Libya Observer". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rival group seizes Libya's UN-backed government offices". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital Tripoli - Region - World - Ahram Online". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital". Retrieved 16 November 2016.
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