Libya's new PM plans to bring militias under state's umbrella

Libya's new Prime Minister, Fathi Bashagha, has unveiled a plan to integrate militias active in his country into state institutions and production projects in return for putting down their arms.

The militias, he said, would operate under the control of his government, within efforts to bring stability back to Libya.

This is the first time a plan is drafted for bringing the militias under the umbrella of the Libyan state.

In August 2021, former prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, said he would merge the militias into state institutions.

Merger

In an address to the Libyan people, Prime Minister Bashagha highlighted the importance of bringing stability back to Libya and stopping the war.

Libya, he said, has stopped to be a state since 2011.

He added that his government had prepared a plan to integrate the militias into various institutions.

"We will not allow anybody to point their guns in the face of the state," the new prime minister said.

Bashagha's appointment by the House of Deputies has polarized the militias, drawing support from some of these militias for him and opposition from others.

Some of the militias active in western Libya back Bashagha, having commended the House of Deputies for naming him as a new prime minister of the country.

The same militias said they were ready to carry out any missions entrusted onto them by the new premier.

Backing the new prime minister are 36 militias, including – among others – the Tripoli Revolutionaries, the 166th Group of Muhammad al-Hussan, and the 210th Motorized Infantry.

Bashagha said he has a military background that qualifies him to know the destructive effects of war.

He advised his countrymen to support efforts for bringing in peace and stability to their country.

"We need to stay away from sedition," the new prime minister said.

"Libyans will enter their country's capital by the force of law, not by the force of arms," he added.