The spokesperson for the Libyan Presidential Council stated in a social media post that armed groups in Tripoli stormed a hotel on Friday where the new council was meeting, highlighting the ongoing risks facing the unity government. Unverified images on social media showed armed individuals in military attire standing at the entrance of the Corinthia Hotel; however, the council spokesperson, Najwa Wahiba, confirmed that no council members were present in the building.
The groups expressed their anger towards the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Najla Mangoush. The Presidential Council, which serves as the head of state, was selected through a process facilitated by the United Nations, leading to the establishment of a new national unity government in March to replace rival administrations in the east and west of the country.
Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah of the unity government has sought to gain the support of many competing Libyan factions. However, both the Presidential Council and the unity government have faced internal criticism and challenges to their authority. In the eastern region of the country, military leader Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (the eastern Libya forces) continue to dominate, nearly a year after the collapse of their 14-month offensive to seize the capital.
In Tripoli, armed groups that repelled Haftar's attack on the capital, with Turkish support, still control the streets. The presence of foreign mercenaries remains entrenched on both sides of the heavily fortified front line, despite international calls for the warring parties to expel them from the country. Last week, the Foreign Minister reiterated the call for all foreign fighters to leave while standing next to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu during his visit to the country.
Turkey claims its military presence in Libya differs from that of other foreign forces, as it was requested by the previous government recognized by the United Nations, and it will not withdraw until others do. Prior to the hotel storming on Friday, an operations room for armed groups in Tripoli announced on social media that they had convened to discuss what they described as the Foreign Minister's irresponsible statements and subsequently urged the Government of National Unity to officially reject Haftar.
