Al-Arab newspaper said that during his recent visit to Tunisia, the Libyan Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, held negotiations with a number of leaders of armed formations in the western region; in an effort to woo it against the Prime Minister of the National Unity Government, Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, who refuses to hand over power.
On his visit, Bashagha was accompanied by the Minister of Defense in his government, Hamid Houma, who confirmed his meeting with representatives of some armed formations and military regions in Tunisia, and he communicated with a number of others by phone, stressing that he will communicate later with the leaders of the military regions in western Libya to find out all the needs and consult with them in direct meetings with Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Mohammed Al-Haddad, and the armed factions affiliated with the Presidential Council, according to the newspaper’s sources.
The newspaper pointed out that Bashagha’s success in convincing the leaders of the armed groups to support his government seems difficult, especially since they are benefiting from the conflict between the two governments, which restored consideration to them after marginalizing their role during the last period in light of the fragile stability that the country was witnessing.
The newspaper added that these talks will be the last chance for Bashagha to enter the capital, otherwise his government will be stillborn if he takes another city as its headquarters.
The newspaper’s sources reported that the majority of armed groups in Misurata, Tripoli, and the western region in general owe allegiance to Dabaiba, with the possibility that they may have received financial support in return for this loyalty.
It is noteworthy that US Ambassador Richard Norland confirmed two weeks ago that both Dabaiba and Bashagha “are ready to enter into negotiations to find a political solution to the crisis in the country.”
