Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
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Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)

Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh surprised Libyans with his announcement of an expanded national unity government.

In remarks late on Friday, he said the cabinet will be comprised of 35 ministers.

The lineup will be presented to parliament on Monday for a vote. The legislature will meet in the central city of Sirte.

The cabinet will be formed of 27 minister who will hold portfolios and six ministers of state.

Dbeibeh vowed that the ministers will prioritize the improvement of services provided to the people, the unification of state institutions and holding elections.

The PM has until March 19 to receive the parliament’s vote of confidence before embarking on the most challenging part of his mission, which is unifying institutions and leading the transitional phase until the December 24 elections are held.

Dbeibeh has divided the cabinet into seven sovereign and 14 service portfolios and six state ministers.

The lineup confirmed a previous Asharq Al-Awsat report that said Khaled Mazen would be appointed interior minister. Government of National Accord (GNA) Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha would no longer retain his post, despite the support he had received from Washington and Ankara.

He also named Lamia Bosidera, as foreign minister.

Dbeibeh will act as defense minister, similar to his predecessor GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj.



Two Million Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall, Says UN

Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
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Two Million Syrians Returned Home Since Assad's Fall, Says UN

Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters
Syrian migrants wait at the Cilvegozu border gate to cross into Syria, after Syrian rebels announced that they ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in the Turkish town of Reyhanli in Hatay province, Türkiye, - Reuters

Over two million Syrians who had fled their homes during their country's war have returned since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi said Thursday, ahead of a visit to Syria.

The Syrian civil war, which erupted in 2011 with Assad's brutal repression of anti-government protests, displaced half of the population internally or abroad.

But Assad's December 8 ouster at the hands of Islamist forces sparked hopes of return.

"Over two million Syrian refugees and displaced have returned home since December," Grandi wrote on X during a visit to neighboring Lebanon, which hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to official estimates, AFP reported.

It is "a sign of hope amid rising regional tensions," he said.

"This proves that we need political solutions -- not another wave of instability and displacement."

After 14 years of war, many returnees face the reality of finding their homes and property badly damaged or destroyed.

But with the recent lifting of Western sanctions on Syria, new authorities hope for international support to launch reconstruction, which the UN estimates could cost more than $400 billion.

Earlier this month, UNHCR estimated that up to 1.5 million Syrians from abroad and two million internally displaced persons may return by the end of 2025.