Fayez al-Sarraj

Fayez al-Sarraj
فايز السراج
Fayez al-Sarraj in Washington in 2017
Fayez al-Sarraj in 2017
Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya
Assumed office
30 March 2016
Vice President Ahmed Maiteeq
Preceded by Aguila Saleh Issa (President of the House of Representatives)
Nouri Abusahmain (President of the General National Congress)
26th Prime Minister of Libya
Assumed office
5 April 2016*[1]
Deputy Ahmed Maiteeq
Preceded by Abdullah al-Thani
Khalifa al-Ghawil
Minister of Defense
Assumed office
6 September 2018
Prime Minister Himself
Preceded by Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi
Personal details
Born Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj
1960 (age 57–58)
Tripoli, Libya
Political party Independent
*Sarrraj's premiership is disputed by Abdullah al-Thani and since 14 October 2016, by Khalifa al-Ghawil.

Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj (Arabic: فائز السراج‎ or فايز السراج; born 1960)[2] is the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and prime minister[3] of the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya that was formed as a result of the Libyan Political Agreement signed on 17 December 2015. He has been a member of the Parliament of Tripoli.[4]

Since assuming leadership of the GNA, Sarraj has struggled to exert his authority throughout Libya, and the country remains largely fractured between opposing political forces and generally unstable.

Biography

Born in Tripoli, Sarraj comes from a prominent and wealthy family of the city, which owned shops and vast amount of land.[5][6] His father, Mostafa al-Sarraj was a government minister during the Libyan Monarchy and was one of the founders of modern Libya.[5][7] Trained as an architect, during the Gaddafi era he worked in the Housing Ministry.[6] In 2014, he served as the Minister of Housing and Utilities in the Maiteeq Cabinet of the GNC.[8] Some critics "regard Sarraj as a politician imposed by foreign powers."[9] At the time of his appointment "Guma el-Gamaty, a member of Libya Dialogue, the UN-chaired body that created the new government, said Sarraj was expected to ask for help to combat Isis and train Libyan units."[10]

After Libya's 2014 elections, Libyan government was split between the Islamist-dominated New General National Congress in Tripoli and the internationally recognized legislature of the House of Representatives in Tobruk.[4]

Presidency

In early October 2015, the United Nations envoy to Libya, Bernardino León, proposed a national unity government for Libya, led by a prime minister (Fayez al-Sarraj), three deputies from the country's east, west, and south regions, and two ministers to complete a presidential council.[11] However, this national unity government was rejected by the internationally recognized legislature in Tobruk and the rival government in Tripoli.[12]

Fayez al-Sarraj, and six other members of the Presidential Council and proposed cabinet arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016.[13] 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-Ghawil had fled to Misrata.[14]

On 14 October 2016, forces loyal to GNC took over the building of the High Council of State and announced the comeback of Ghawil cabinet[15][16] Then, fighting occurred between Sarraj loyalists and Ghawil forces.[17][18]

Government of National Accord

Sarraj with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, 16 May 2016

Sarraj has been Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord since its installment in December 2015 as part of a United Nations-led political agreement.

Prior to his initial arrival in Tripoli in March 2016, Sarraj survived two separate assassination attempts.[19]

Over the past two years, the GNA has struggled to gain a foothold as a legitimate institution of authority inside the country, and Libya has remained divided.[20] The government's initial proposed group of ministers was rejected by the House of Representatives (HoR), leading Sarraj to form a government that received a no confidence vote from the HoR.[21] Infighting among rival militias has only intensified, and Libyan citizens have faced economic hardships, including inflation, corruption, and smuggling, that are "melting away the country's cash reserves".[22][23]

The United Nations representatives who initially formed the unity government have since expressed concern over its ability to make progress. In December 2016, the Security Council noted the "limited authority" of the GNA and stated that "the Libyan Political Agreement did not fulfill the expectations. The implementation has stalled."[24]

Months following this statement, an April 2017 U.N. Security Council meeting summary cautioned that "Libya could relapse into conflict" and said the government has struggled to "deliver basic services while endeavoring to fight terrorism, illegal migration and oil smuggling."[25]

In an attempt to make the government more effective, reports have surfaced throughout 2017 of a consensus to restructure the GNA and overall Libyan Political Agreement.[26][27]

In July 2018, Libya rejected European Union's plan aimed at stopping migration from Libya.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Countries L". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "من هو السراج رئيس حكومة الوفاق الليبية؟". Al Arabiya. October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  3. ↑ Stephen, Chris (31 March 2016). "Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Libya national unity government announced by UN after months of talks". The Guardian. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Pacifier la Libye : le pari fou du Premier ministre Fayez al-Sarraj" (in French). France 24. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. 1 2 Mezran, Karim (9 October 2015). "The Libyan Agreement: The First Step in a Long Journey". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Italy ponders military intervention in Libya". The Economist. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "GNC-approved Maetig cabinet revealed". Libya Herald. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "PROFILE Fayez Sarraj: A Libyan leader with a tough job". Europe Online Magazine. Europe Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Stephen, Chris. "Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli". Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli. The Guardian Newspaper. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "UN proposes unity government to end Libya conflict". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  12. ↑ Benghazi, Associated Press in. "Libyan officials reject UN-proposed unity deal with rival government". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Support grows for Libya's new unity government". Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "GNC retakes parliament compound, High Council of State condemns | The Libya Observer". Libyaobserver.ly. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Rival group seizes Libya's UN-backed government offices". TRT World. 15 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital Tripoli – Region – World – Ahram Online". English.ahram.org.eg. 16 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  18. ↑ Musa, Rami. "Clashes erupt in Libyan capital". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  19. ↑ Cairo, Bel Trew (21 February 2017). "Libyan prime minister survives assassination attempt". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Libyan PM Fayez al-Sarraj: Can Former Architect Rebuild a Shattered Country?". Fanack.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Libya's UN-backed government gets 'no confidence' vote". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  22. ↑ Muntasser, Emadeddin Zahri (6 September 2016). "The Coming Fall of Libya's GNA". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  23. ↑ Pusztai, Wolfgang. "The Failed Serraj Experiment of Libya". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  24. ↑ "UN News – Libyan political accord 'stands firm, but stuck' – UN envoy tells Security Council". UN News Service Section. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  25. ↑ "Libya Could Relapse into Conflict, Secretary-General's Special Representative Warns, Citing Volatile Security, Human Rights Situation | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". United Nations. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  26. ↑ "Support growing for amending Libya government leadership: U.N. official". Reuters. 9 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  27. ↑ "Will Libya's Government of National Accord fall?". Libyan Express – Libya News, Opinion, Analysis and Latest Updates from Libya. 13 September 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "Libya rejects EU plans for migrant centers on its territory". Reuters. 20 July 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
Aguila Saleh Issa
as President of the House of Representatives of Libya		 Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council
2016–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Abdullah al-Thani		 Prime Minister of Libya
2016–present
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