Government of National Accord facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Government of National Accord
حكومة الوفاق الوطني

Provisional government overview
Formed	17 December 2015
Dissolved	10 March 2021
Superseding agency	Government of National Unity (merged with Tobruk-based Government)
Jurisdiction	Libya
Headquarters	Tripoli

Government of National Accord (GNA)
حكومة الوفاق الوطني Participant in Second Libyan Civil War
Active	2015–2021
Headquarters	Tripoli, Libya
Allies	Turkey  Qatar Syrian National Army  Italy  Malta  United Nations  United States  Pakistan  Palestine  Algeria  Morocco  Iran
Opponents	Libyan National Army Islamic State - Libyan Province  United Arab Emirates  Saudi Arabia  Egypt  Greece  France  Russia  Ba'athist Syria  Jordan  Chad

The Government of National Accord (GNA) was a temporary government in Libya. It was created on December 17, 2015, as part of a plan led by the United Nations. This plan, called the Libyan Political Agreement, aimed to bring peace and stability to Libya.

The United Nations Security Council fully supported the GNA. They saw it as the only official government in Libya. The GNA had 17 ministers and was led by a Prime Minister. Its first meeting happened in January 2016 in Tunis.

The GNA's Prime Minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, and other leaders arrived in Tripoli on March 30, 2016. They soon took control of the main government offices. However, the GNA faced challenges in uniting Libya. It struggled to gain full control and support across the country.

The GNA's official term ended in 2017, but it continued to operate. On March 10, 2021, a new government was approved. This new government, called the Government of National Unity, took over from the GNA. Its goal was to bring together all parts of Libya's government.

Libya's Political Situation

After Muammar Gaddafi was removed from power in 2011, Libya faced a lot of political problems. An interim council, the National Transitional Council, governed for a short time. Then, the General National Congress (GNC) was elected in 2012.

Challenges for the GNC

Many groups worried about the GNC's decisions. Some officials in the GNC wanted to follow strict religious laws. They also extended their time in power, which caused more disagreements. In 2014, a military leader named Khalifa Haftar called for the GNC to be dissolved. He led a military action that took control of Tripoli.

In June 2014, new elections were held for a different group, the House of Representatives. However, many people did not vote. Some groups did not accept the election results. Islamist groups started attacks in major cities. This led the Libyan House of Representatives to move from Tripoli to Tobruk.

These conflicts caused a new civil war. Libya became divided, with different groups controlling different areas. This led to efforts to create a new government that could unite the country.

How the GNA Was Created

Efforts to bring peace to Libya started in early 2015. The United Nations helped different groups talk to each other. They worked on a plan for a unity government to end the civil war.

Signing the Peace Agreement

After many discussions, a peace agreement was signed on December 17, 2015, in Morocco. This agreement created the Presidential Council and the High Council of State. It also officially set up the Government of National Accord (GNA).

The United Nations Security Council quickly supported the GNA. Many countries around the world recognized it as Libya's official government. The GNA held its first meeting in January 2016. It moved its main offices to Tripoli in March 2016.

GNA's Challenges and End

Even after the GNA was formed, the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk voted against it in 2016. This made them rivals for governing Libya. The GNA struggled to gain full control and support across the country.

In 2017, the GNA's official term ended according to the agreement. However, it continued to function. In March 2021, a new government, the Government of National Unity, was approved. This new government aimed to combine the GNA with the rival Tobruk-based government.

Important Agreements

The Libyan Political Agreement

The Government of National Accord was officially created by the Libyan Political Agreement. This agreement was signed on December 17, 2015. The United Nations Security Council fully supported it. They recognized the GNA as the only official government in Libya.

The agreement had four main goals:

• Protecting the democratic rights of the Libyan people.
• Creating a government based on shared agreement and separate powers.
• Making government bodies like the GNA strong enough to solve problems.
• Respecting Libya's independent court system.

This agreement was meant to bring peace. However, its legal term for the GNA ended in 2017.

Groups Influencing the GNA

House of Representatives

Before the GNA, the Libyan House of Representatives was Libya's internationally recognized government. It was supported by countries like the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia. It also had the backing of the Libyan National Army and its leader, Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar gained power by fighting against extremist groups. He also took control of important oil ports. The Libyan House of Representatives later stopped recognizing the GNA. Many experts believed that Haftar's involvement was key to uniting Libya.

General National Congress

The General National Congress (GNC) was elected in 2012. It was meant to replace the previous temporary council. However, some of its leaders supported Islamist groups. This led to violence and disagreements. The GNC was mainly supported by hardline Islamist groups in Tripoli and Misrata.

Egypt's Role

Egypt wanted to see a stable Libya. It supported Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan House of Representatives. Egypt was concerned that continued conflict would help extremist groups grow. It also wanted a friendly leader in eastern Libya to create a safe zone near its border.

Russia's Role

Russia was interested in helping Libya become a strong country again. It had opposed the removal of Gaddafi in 2011. Russia met with different Libyan groups, including both the GNA and Khalifa Haftar. Russia wanted to help create a lasting government in Libya.

United States' Role

The United States and the European Union were among the first to recognize the GNA. They urged all Libyans to support the new government for peace and stability. The U.S. also carried out air strikes in Libya to fight extremist groups. It worked to support the GNA and unite the country.

Turkey's Role

Turkey strongly supported the GNA. It provided drones, armored vehicles, and weapons to the GNA. Turkey also signed an agreement with the GNA about maritime borders. This caused tension with other countries like Greece and Egypt. Turkey sent Syrian fighters to support the GNA in Tripoli.

Qatar's Role

Qatar also supported the GNA. It provided weapons, money, and special forces. Qatar aimed to establish a base in Libya in alliance with Turkey.

United Arab Emirates' Role

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) supported the Libyan House of Representatives and Khalifa Haftar. The UAE carried out many air strikes to help Haftar's forces. The GNA criticized the UAE for its actions and for signing a peace agreement with Israel.

Algeria and Tunisia

Unlike other countries, Algeria and Tunisia focused on supporting peace talks in Libya. They worked together to prevent the conflict from spreading into their own countries.

Islamic State

The Islamic State (ISIS) also had a presence in Libya. They took control of some towns, like Derna and Sirte. The GNA, with help from local militias and U.S. air strikes, fought against ISIS. In December 2016, ISIS was driven out of Sirte. However, many of its fighters were believed to remain hidden in Libya.

GNA's Structure and Leaders

The Government of National Accord had a Cabinet of Ministers and a Presidential Council. The Presidential Council had nine members and was led by the Prime Minister. This council acted as the head of state and military commander. It appointed the country's military leaders and the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Cabinet of Ministers was the GNA's executive branch. It had 17 ministers and was led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. It also had two Deputy Prime Ministers, Ahmed Maiteeq and Musa Al-Koni. Ministers needed to be approved by the Prime Minister and his deputies.

The GNA was meant to serve for one year. This term could be extended if a new constitution was not ready. The GNA could also be dissolved if the Libyan House of Representatives voted against it, or if the Prime Minister resigned.

Here are some of the proposed ministers from January 2016:

Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj came from an important local family. His father was also involved in politics. Fayez al-Sarraj worked to bring unity to Libya after Gaddafi's fall. He was chosen as Prime Minister because he was not strongly linked to any of the fighting groups.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq represented the city of Misrata. Misrata's militias were very important in fighting Gaddafi and ISIS. Misrata's forces and the Libyan National Army were the two main military groups in Libya.

The Central Bank of Libya and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) both supported the GNA. Even though the NOC also worked with Khalifa Haftar, they pledged loyalty to the GNA. The rival government in Tobruk also tried to set up its own bank and oil company, but these were not recognized by other countries.

Discussions About Changing the Agreement

In 2016, the UN special envoy to Libya, Martin Kobler, suggested that the Libyan Political Agreement might need changes. He said the agreement was "stuck."

Many countries worried that if the fighting continued, ISIS and other extremist groups would gain more power. A report in November 2016 said the agreement had failed to bring peace. It warned that Libya could fall into chaos if the peace process was not "reset."

The GNA was also criticized for not focusing enough on uniting the country. Critics wanted changes to the GNA's structure. They also wanted to discuss the future role of Khalifa Haftar. Haftar was popular for fighting extremists and bringing security to some areas. His supporters believed that including him in the government was important for peace.

See also

• Presidential Council (Libya)
• House of Representatives (Libya)
• High Council of State (Libya)