Libya’s outgoing prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and chairman of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Menfi, held a meeting on Sunday with several security officials, including members of 5+5 Joint Military Committee, and chiefs of intelligence, military police and counterterrorism.
According to a brief statement by Dbeibeh’s government, the talks focused on the “latest military developments, the course of action of the 5+5 Joint Military Committee, and the steps taken to unify the military institution, away from all political squabbles, and follow up on the continuation of the ceasefire”.
Local media predicted the meeting resulting in a package of measures and decisions aimed at controlling security in Tripoli.
A source close to Menfi said that the meeting also included military and security leaders from Libya’s western region.
Speaking under the conditions of anonymity, the source pointed out that the meeting aims to prevent the outbreak of new armed clashes between the forces of the Dbeibeh government and militias affiliated with his rival, Fathi Bashagha, who heads a parallel government backed by the House of Representatives.
However, many observers doubt that the leaders of the armed militias loyal to the two competing governments for power abiding by any decisions issued by this meeting. Tensions between armed groups loyal to the rival leaders have increased in recent months in Tripoli.
For his part, Dbeibeh ignored these developments.
On Sunday evening, Dbeibeh visited the Misrata Medical Center.
He thanked the Center’s staff for their efforts to provide good health services to the residents of the municipality and neighboring municipalities.
Libya has for years been split between rival administrations in the east and the west, each supported by rogue militias and foreign governments. The Mediterranean nation has been in a state of upheaval since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and later killed longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi.
