Libya’s eastern administration hands power to interim government

The new UN-backed interim government headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah is meant to steer Libya towards elections.

Libya’s eastern administration has officially handed over power to a new executive that is meant to unify the war-torn country and steer it towards elections late this year. The Government of National Unity (GNU), selected through a UN-recognised process, is the latest internationally-backed attempt to end a decade of chaos in the North African nation and unite rival administrations. Led by interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, the GNU replaces both the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and the parallel eastern cabinet headquartered in the Cyrenaica region and not recognised by the international community.