Revealing some of the internal divisions that exist between the government, the GNC and the Chief of Staff, and that are contributing to the ineffectiveness of the new Libyan state and the current political paralyses, Prime Minister Ali Zeidan admitted during Tuesday’s press conference that the Chief of Staff was refusing to take orders from him or send troops to the recent hotspot of Sebha .
It is by all accounts an astonishing admission by the head of the executive that he has no power to call on the army in times of security crises.
Zeidan admitted that there was a problem between the government and the Ministry of Defence. “The Chief of Staff is appointed by the GNC, and the Minister of Defence is appointed by the government”, the Prime Minister explained.
Moreover, he continued, “the Chief of Staff has the understanding that the government does not have the right in issuing him with instructions. We have discussed this with the GNC Defence Committee”, he explained.
Moreover, Zeidan, revealing the depth and seriousness of the dysfunctionality between his government and the GNC, frankly admitted that “even in sending troops to the south we faced problems”.
Zeidan was referring to the recent shooting spree in Sebha and the inter-ethnic conflict leading to tens of wounded and killed. Mediators from the Western regions of Libya were needed to bring calm to the city.
“This situation does not help the country because it is not in the interest of the government”, Zeidan went on to warn. “To delay anything in Libya whatever the period of delay, will be harmful. I hope all the concerned parties will reach an understanding so as to avoid the current problems”, he said appealing to and for a solution from the GNC.
The revelation could be indicative of the increased strained relations between the current Ali Zeidan government and the GNC, a strain that could prove costly to the fragile security situation in Libya.
It could also be a revelation of the internal power struggles within the GNC, which is still currently considering a vote of no confidence in the increasingly ineffective Zeidan government.
Sami Zaptia
