Question Period Note: Libyan PM assassination attempt

Assassination attempt against Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah on February 10, 2022 in Tripoli.

• We are aware of unconfirmed reports of an assassination attempt against Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah on February 10 in Tripoli and are monitoring the situation closely.
• We are aware that former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagah has been confirmed new PM designate by the Libyan House of Representatives in a vote on February 10 and are continuing to monitor developments.
• Canada continues to support the political process ushered by the UN and the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, including the ceasefire agreement and the holding of national elections.

According to unsubstantiated reports, an attempted assassination took place early Thursday morning in Tripoli against Libyan PM Dbeibah. At this time, there has been no official statement from the Government of National Unity (GNU) to confirm the incident. Aside from a tweet by the Austrian Embassy, there has been no reaction from the international community as it continues to wait for more information.

The suspected assassination attempt came hours before a scheduled House of Representatives (HoR) vote to elect a new Prime Minister, during which former Interior Minister Fathi Bashagah was appointment PM-designate. Bashagah has 10 days to form a government, which will be subject to a vote of confidence by the HoR. The move to replace PM Dbeibah comes amid increasing disputes among Libyan government bodies following the postponement of elections in December 2021, with opponents arguing that Dbeibah's government mandate had come to an end. Dbeibah has said he would not hand over power until elections are achieved. Furthermore, the move to appoint a new PM is highly controversial and legally complicated, with the rules on what is needed to appoint a new government varying across institutions. Bashagah's appointment as PM-designate has not been recognized by the UN or the international community. Nonetheless, the possibility of parallel governments (one in Tripoli led by Dbeibah, and one in Tobruk led by Bashagah) is a real possibility and with it, the risk of a return to armed conflict in Libya.

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