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On August 25th, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) continued deploying more troops and equipment towards Sirte and Jufra.
المسماري للعربية: الأزمة في طرابلس أمنية تسببت بفساد واسع #العربية_عاجل https://t.co/a1vIGVFnOW
— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) August 25, 2020
LNA Spokesperson Brigadier General Ahmed al-Mesmari claimed that Government of National Accord (GNA and Turkish forces were amassing east of Misrata preparing for their impending attack on Sirte.
That’s been the narrative for over a month now and no attack has taken place yet.
المسماري للعربية: تحشيد تركي كبير شرق مصراتة #العربية_عاجل https://t.co/a1vIGVFnOW
— العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) August 25, 2020
Meanwhile, protests continued in Misrata and Tripoli against widespread corruption and poor living conditions.
GNA President Fayez al-Sarraj ordered the Undersecretary of Interior Ministry Khaled Mazen to grant protest permits to all groups that protest for reform, rather than resignation of GNA.
BREAKING | Fayez al-#Sarraj: Secure demonstrations are for those who demonstrate properly and have permits. #Libya #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/vgOypn8v18
— صحيفة المرصد الليبية (@ObservatoryLY) August 25, 2020
BREAKING | Fayez al-#Sarraj orders the Undersecretary of Interior Ministry Khaled #Mazen to grant protest permits to loyalists demanding "reform rather than resignation" and to protect them. #Libya #Tripoli pic.twitter.com/XncQKojzS2
— صحيفة المرصد الليبية (@ObservatoryLY) August 25, 2020
He said that the only protests whose security can be guaranteed are the ones that have a proper permit.
Refusing to give up power, al-Sarraj began urgent reshuffling of the cabinet in order to presumably appease protesters.
Al-Sarraj made a televised statement in conjunction with the outbreak of mass demonstrations in Tripoli against deteriorating living conditions and rampant corruption.
“I may have to declare an emergency in order to form a government of crisis…Urgent ministerial reshuffles will be made away from the consent [of some groups] and quotas,” he said.
“I will not allow [our] legitimacy to fall and the entry of Libya into a dark tunnel,” he added, acknowledging his responsibility.
However, he went on to say that “we do not have control of all the homeland’s soil.”
Al-Sarraj insisted on calling for presidential and parliamentary elections in March, saying “the only political option to save the homeland is to reproduce the powers through elections.”
The premier stressed that there are some parties that do not wish to hold elections for their own interests, “but the elections will end a lot of the struggle over power in Libya.”
Al-Sarraj declared his readiness to implement any agreement that meets the acceptance and consensus of all Libyan actors and called on Libyan protesters not to be dragged into the calls for sabotage over the deterioration of living conditions, saying “I have ordered all state agencies to protect the peaceful demonstrators.”
#عاجل
آلاف المتظاهرين يتركون " ميدان الشهداء " للعشرات من أنصار السراج ويتجهون في مسيرة إلى مقر رئاسة الوزراء بطريق السكة . #ليبيا— MOHAMMED MAHJOOB (@M_MAHJOOB32) August 25, 2020
The protesters demanding for better living conditions and resignation of the GNA were reportedly beaten.
شهود عيان: مسلحون يعتدون بالضرب على المتظاهرين في ميدان الشهداء بالعاصمة الليبية طرابلس
— سكاي نيوز عربية-عاجل (@SkyNewsArabia_B) August 25, 2020
At the same time, east of Benghazi there are protests against the House of Representatives.
protest have reached eastern libya , protests against eastern based HOR and abdullah altani gov in Al-qubah town .#Libya pic.twitter.com/srdis6HNmt
— Ouais Hasairi | أويس الحصائري (@HasairiOuais) August 25, 2020
#شاهد || وقفة احتجاجية بمدينة #القبة احتجاجا على تردي الأوضاع المعيشية.#ليبيا pic.twitter.com/LITXcQ7anC
— كواليس (@KawaleesLy) August 25, 2020
Protesters still out near the Abraq road in Al Qubah. pic.twitter.com/2DbGNH9WLD
— Libya Monitoring ?? (@Libya_OSINT) August 25, 2020
Likely to coordinate some incoming actions in reopening the oil exports, or something in regard to a political solution or some other internal decision, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar met with representatives of the House of Representatives he met the Interim Prime Minister, as well as the Ministers of Interior, Finance, Electricity, Mayor of Benghazi and Head of the Waha Oil Company.
A first of its kind in quite some time, an extraordinary meeting between #Haftar, Interim government’s PM AlThani along with the Ministers of Interior, Finance, Electricity, Mayor of Benghazi and Head of the Waha Oil Company. https://t.co/Di9AdPNPB2
— Oliver Crowley (@O_Crowley_LD) August 25, 2020
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