Libya's Fayez Al Sarraj rescinds resignation after German request

The head of the Government of National Accord said the move was to avoid a power vacuum

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio welcomes GNA Prime Minister Fayez Al Sarraj. EPA

The head of Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord has rescinded his resignation, saying it was at the request of international countries to avoid a power vacuum.

Fayez Al Sarraj, the prime minister of the GNA, had been set to step down on October 31 as part of talks to end the civil war in the country.

GNA spokesman Ghaleb Al Zaqlaiy said on Friday that Mr Al Sarraj had been called on not to quit and appreciated the “motivations behind them”.

The announcement was made shortly after Germany’s Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who has been trying to pursue a political solution to the fighting in Libya, urged Mr Al Sarraj to delay his resignation to ensure continuity in political talks.

Mr Maas welcomed last week’s signing of a UN-brokered ceasefire and start of a political dialogue as a real chance for peace in Libya.

“In light of the start of the political talks, however, we would like to see Mr Al Sarraj postpone his resignation and remain in office for the duration of the dialogue forum,” Mr Maas said.

“From our point of view, this would be important in order to guarantee institutional and executive continuity,” he said.

The warring sides have been talking via videoconference and are due to hold in-person negotiations on November 9 in Tunisia, with the goal of holding national elections.

Mr Al Sarraj announced in September his intention to stand down no later than October.

The GNA said Mr Al Sarraj had received requests to stay in his post longer to avoid a political vacuum, including from “leaders in friendly countries” and UN officials.

Mr Al Sarraj said “the exit of the current political actors will help to find a way out” of Libya’s crisis.

For the past year, the GNA has been fighting an offensive launched by the Libyan National Army backed by the eastern House of Representatives to take the capital and end the rule of militias. But with massive Turkish support – including Turkish soldiers on the ground, significant arms transfers and the deployment of thousands of Syrian mercenaries – the pro-GNA militias repelled the assault and pushed the LNA back to the city of Sirte before calls for a ceasefire from both sides led to a reduction of fighting.

Despite the agreement to work towards peace talks, to build a unified government with a single national budget and hold elections, it will be a long process to stability.

Last month, the UAE welcomed the agreement for a permanent ceasefire and repeated the need for a political solution to the conflict.

Separately, Major General Wanis Bukhamada, who was head of the LNA’s Special Forces, died while delivering a speech at a gathering in Libya on Sunday. His death was result of a sudden illness, the LNA said.

Bukhamada led the LNA operations to capture Benghazi.