Libyan rival governments ordered to stop all cooperation

The Prime Minister of the eastern government in Libya, Osama Hammad, has issued a statement instructing all the institutions of the eastern government to stop cooperating with the administration based in the western city of Tripoli, according to the Libya Review on July 31st.

Libya’s governance has been split into two rival administrations since 2011, when a NATO-led mission overthrew longtime dictator Moamar Gadhafi.

The Government of National Unity is based in the capital city Tripoli and internationally recognised by the UN and foreign governments. Hammad’s government is based in the east, aligned with the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar and is backed by foreign governments including Egypt and Russia.

Those instructed by Hammad to cease all cooperation with the Government of National Unity include ministries, agencies, public bodies, financial offices and independent institutions. They have specifically been asked not to provide the rival government with any administrative or financial information, records, or documentation, and regardless of classification no data is to be shared with Tripoli.

Hammad’s statement also commanded his government’s officials to ignore any instructions or decisions given by the Government of National Unity.

Any institutions or individuals who violate these orders will face legal and administrative accountability, and could face disciplinary action.

If followed, this new directive poses serious threats of disruption to key sectors in Libya including finance, health and education.

Hammad’s decisions shows not just the significant extent of the political divides in Libya but also the mistrust between the rival administrations.

This directive comes following a diplomatic incident in July where a European Union migration delegation was refused entry by Hammad’s government, who accused them of breaking Libya’s diplomatic conventions by visiting the government in Tripoli first.

The political divides in Libya have had serious consequences for elections in Libya. National elections are yet to be carried out, but municipal elections are scheduled to take place in August of 2025.

So far the governments have halted election progress in certain municipalities, with the eastern government accused by the Libyan Crime Watch of deliberately sabotaging the elections.

Libya Review/Maghrebi