Government of National Accord facts for kids
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| Provisional government overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 17 December 2015 |
| Dissolved | 10 March 2021 |
| Superseding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Libya |
| Headquarters | Tripoli |
| Government of National Accord (GNA) | |
|---|---|
| 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 of Iraq and the Levant United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Egypt
 Jordan Chad |
The Government of National Accord (GNA; Arabic: حكومة الوفاق الوطني) was a temporary government for Libya. It was created based on the Libyan Political Agreement. This agreement was a plan led by the United Nations and signed on December 17, 2015. The United Nations Security Council fully supported this agreement. They saw the GNA as the only rightful government in Libya.
In 2016, the GNA had 17 ministers and was led by a Prime Minister. The first meeting of the GNA's leaders happened on January 2, 2016, in Tunis. The Prime Minister, Fayez al-Sarraj, and other leaders arrived in Tripoli on March 30, 2016. The next day, the GNA took control of the main government offices.
However, the GNA faced challenges. One of Libya's parliaments, the Libyan House of Representatives, later stopped supporting it. This made the GNA a rival to that parliament. Even so, the United Nations continued to see the GNA as Libya's official government until 2020. The GNA struggled to unite Libya because the country was divided by different political groups and tribes. Its official term ended in 2017, as stated in the agreement that created it.
On March 10, 2021, a new government was approved. It was called the Government of National Unity. This new government aimed to bring together the GNA and another rival government based in Tobruk.
Contents
Background: Why Libya Needed a New Government
After Muammar Gaddafi was removed from power in 2011, Libya became very unstable. An interim council, the National Transitional Council, first took charge. Then, the General National Congress (GNC) was elected in 2012.
Division Under the GNC
Many people worried about the actions of the GNC. Some of its members were from Islamist parties, which caused disagreements. The GNC also made rules that prevented people who worked for Gaddafi from holding office. They also decided to use sharia law and extended their own term, delaying new elections.
In 2014, a military leader named Khalifa Haftar called for the GNC to be dissolved. He wanted a new council to organize elections. In May, his forces, called Operation Dignity, took control of Tripoli.
New elections were held in June 2014 for a new parliament, the Libyan House of Representatives. Most elected members were moderate. However, some Islamist groups rejected the results because not many people voted. Islamist groups then started attacks in major cities. They formed their own campaign called Operation Libya Dawn. This forced the Libyan House of Representatives to move from Tripoli to Tobruk.
These conflicts led to a new civil war in Libya. The country became divided, with different groups controlling different areas. This situation made leaders try to create a new national unity government.
History of the GNA
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 wanted to create a unity government to end the civil war. After many discussions, a peace agreement was signed on December 17, 2015, in Skhirat, Morocco.
This agreement created the Presidential Council and the High Council of State. It also set up the Government of National Accord (GNA). The United Nations Security Council quickly supported the GNA. Many countries saw it as Libya's rightful government. The European Union's foreign policy chief said it was a key step to end divisions and fight terrorism.
The GNA held its first meeting in Tunis in January 2016. By February, all minister positions were filled. On March 30, 2016, the GNA's Presidential Council moved to Tripoli. It started working from a naval base there. More and more groups in Libya began to support the GNA.
Challenges with the Tobruk Government
Despite early agreements, the Libyan House of Representatives in Tobruk voted against approving the GNA in 2016. This made them rivals. In 2017, cooperation between the two governments completely broke down. Meetings between Prime Minister Sarraj and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar did not lead to an agreement. The Libyan House of Representatives officially stopped recognizing the GNA. They called for new elections.
The GNA struggled to gain full support because it had a weak military and couldn't fully control Tripoli. However, leaders continued to meet to find solutions. In May 2018, talks in Paris led to an agreement to hold a general election in December. But this election did not happen. More talks in November 2018 also aimed for elections in 2019.
In September 2020, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj said he would step down. This came after protests in Tripoli. However, he later changed his mind and decided to stay until new elections could be arranged.
Important Agreements
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 legitimate government in Libya. The agreement also created the High Council of State, which advises the government.
The agreement was based on four main ideas. These included ensuring democratic rights, having a government with separate powers, strengthening state institutions like the GNA, and respecting Libya's independent courts. However, the legal term for this agreement ended in 2017.
Declaration of Principles
Around the same time, the two rival parliaments, the Libyan House of Representatives and the GNC, signed their own agreement in Tunis. This was separate from the U.N.-led agreement. This new deal aimed to create a national unity government. It involved a committee from both sides choosing a temporary prime minister.
Many Libyans felt the U.N.-led agreement was forced on them. The U.N. still insisted that their agreement was the only way to unite the country.
Groups Influencing the GNA
House of Representatives
The Libyan House of Representatives was elected in 2014. It was Libya's internationally recognized government before the GNA was formed. This parliament was supported by the Libyan National Army and its leader, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. Haftar's forces fought against Islamist groups and gained control of important oil ports.
Haftar had growing influence in Libya, especially in the East. Because of his strong position, many believed his involvement was key to creating a stable government.
General National Congress
The GNC was elected in 2012. It was initially made up of mostly moderate officials. However, some members represented Islamist parties, which caused problems. Over time, some groups broke away from the GNC due to increasing violence. The GNC later became supported by hardline Islamist groups and militias in Tripoli and Misrata.
International Support and Opposition
Many countries had different views on the GNA and the conflict in Libya.
- Egypt wanted a settlement between the Libyan House of Representatives and the GNA. They worried about Islamist groups gaining power.
- Russia also wanted a strong government in Libya. They met with leaders from both sides of the conflict.
- The United States and the European Union were among the first to recognize the GNA. They urged all Libyans to support it for peace and stability. The U.S. also carried out air strikes against the Islamic State in Libya.
- Turkey strongly supported the GNA. They provided weapons and military help. This support caused tension with other countries in the region.
- Qatar also supported the GNA, providing funds and military agreements.
- The United Arab Emirates supported the rival Libyan House of Representatives and General Haftar's forces. They carried out air strikes against GNA-allied groups.
- Algeria and Tunisia focused on supporting peace talks and a political solution. They avoided taking sides.
Islamic State
The Islamic State (ISIS) also had a presence in Libya. They took control of some towns, like Derna and Sirte. In 2016, forces loyal to the GNA, with help from U.S. air strikes, fought against ISIS in Sirte. They successfully drove ISIS out of the city. However, it was believed that some ISIS fighters remained hidden in Libya.
How the GNA Was Organized
The Government of National Accord had two main parts: a Cabinet of Ministers and a Presidential Council.
- The Presidential Council had nine members. The Prime Minister led it. This council acted as the head of state and the commander of the armed forces. They also appointed the military leaders and the members of the Cabinet.
- The Cabinet of Ministers was the executive branch, meaning it carried out the government's work. It had 17 ministers. Fayez al-Sarraj was the Prime Minister, and there were two Deputy Prime Ministers. Ministers needed to be approved by the Prime Minister and his deputies.
The GNA was supposed to serve for one year. This term could be extended if a new constitution wasn't ready. The GNA could also be removed by a vote from the Libyan House of Representatives.
Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj came from a well-known family. He was seen as a good choice because he wasn't strongly linked to any of the fighting groups. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq represented the city of Misrata. Misrata's forces were very important in fighting against Gaddafi and ISIS.
The Central Bank of Libya and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) both supported the GNA's Presidential Council. These are important institutions for Libya's economy.
Discussions About Changing the Agreement
In 2016, the United Nations special envoy to Libya suggested that the Libyan Political Agreement might need to be changed. He said the agreement was "stuck."
Many countries worried that if the fighting continued, the Islamic State and other extremist groups could grow stronger in Libya. A report in November 2016 said the agreement had failed to bring peace. It warned that Libya could fall into "free-fall" if the peace process wasn't "reset."
Critics of the GNA also said it focused too much on international support and not enough on helping the Libyan people. They wanted changes to the GNA's structure and a clearer role for Khalifa Haftar. Haftar had a lot of public support for fighting Islamists and bringing security to some areas. Many 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)
