Armed civilian groups in Tripoli attempted to topple the United Nation-backed Libyan government on Friday, less than a year after it was formed on the endorsement of the international body. The rebels captured key government buildings in the national capital, including the home of the state council assembly, and a television station. They called the attempted coup a “historic initiative to rescue Libya”.
The country’s interior ministry said they would arrest members of the militia. The groups were led by Khalifa al-Ghwell, former prime minister of the national salvation government, which was replaced by the current government.
Libya’s Government of National Accord was formed on December 17 with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj as its head. The crisis in Libya began with the Arab Spring protests in 2011, which was followed by a civil war. Foreign militaries intervened and helped oust the country’s leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Years of instability followed, with a second civil war breaking out in 2014. The UN brokered a ceasefire agreement in December 2015, after which the new government was put in place. However, the GNA has not received popular support.
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