Fayez al-Sarraj

Libyan politician and architect

Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj (Arabic: فائز السراج or فايز السراج; born 1960)[2] is a Libyan politician who was the Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya and Prime Minister of Libya|prime minister[3] of the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya that was formed as a result of the Libyan Political Agreement signed on 17 December 2015. He has been a member of the Parliament of Tripoli.[4] He retired on 15 March 2021.


Fayez al-Sarraj
فايز السراج
Al-Sarraj in 2017
Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya
In office
30 March 2016 – 15 March 2021
Vice PresidentAhmed Maiteeq
Preceded byAguila Saleh Issa (President of the House of Representatives)
Nouri Abusahmain (President of the General National Congress)
Succeeded byMohamed al-Menfi
Prime Minister of Libya
Interim
In office
5 April 2016*[1] – 15 March 2021
DeputyAhmed Maiteeq
Preceded byAbdullah al-Thani
Khalifa al-Ghawil
Succeeded byAbdul Hamid Al-Dabaib
Minister of Defense
In office
6 September 2018 – 29 August 2020
Prime MinisterHimself
Preceded byAl-Mahdi Al-Barghathi
Succeeded bySalah Eddine al-Namrouch
Personal details
Born
Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj

(1960-02-20) 20 February 1960 (age 64)
Tripoli, Kingdom of Libya
Political partyIndependent
*Sarrraj's premiership was disputed by Abdullah al-Thani and Khalifa al-Ghawil.

Political career change

His father, Mostafa al-Sarraj was a minister during the Libyan Monarchy.[5][6] Trained as an architect, during the Gaddafi era he worked in the Housing Ministry.[7] In 2014, he served as the Minister of Housing and Utilities in the Maiteeq Cabinet of the GNC.[8] Some critics "regard Sarraj as a politician imposed by foreign powers."[9] At the time of his appointment "Guma el-Gamaty, a member of Libya Dialogue, the UN-chaired body that created the new government, said Sarraj was expected to ask for help to combat Isis and train Libyan units."[10]

Presidency change

In early October 2015, the United Nations envoy to Libya, Bernardino León, proposed a national unity government for Libya, led by a prime minister (Fayez al-Sarraj), three deputies from the country's east, west, and south regions, and two ministers to complete a presidential council.[11] However, this national unity government was rejected by the internationally recognized legislature in Tobruk and the rival government in Tripoli.[12]

Fayez al-Sarraj, and six other members of the Presidential Council and proposed cabinet arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016.[13] The following day, it was reported[undue weight? ] that the GNA has taken control of the prime ministerial offices and that the GNC appointed prime minister Khalifa al-Ghawil had fled to Misrata.[14][unreliable source?]

Prior to his initial arrival in Tripoli in March 2016, Sarraj survived two separate assassination attempts.[15]

The government's initial proposed group of ministers was rejected by the House of Representatives (HoR), leading Sarraj to form a government that received a no confidence vote from the HoR.[16] Infighting among rival militias has only intensified, and Libyan citizens have faced economic hardships, including inflation, corruption, and smuggling, that are "melting away the country's cash reserves".[17][18]

References change

  1. "Countries L". Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  2. "من هو السراج رئيس حكومة الوفاق الليبية؟". Al Arabiya. October 9, 2015. Archived from the original on July 27, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  3. Stephen, Chris (31 March 2016). "Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli". Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  4. "Libya national unity government announced by UN after months of talks". The Guardian. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. "Pacifier la Libye : le pari fou du Premier ministre Fayez al-Sarraj" (in French). France 24. 8 April 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. "Italy ponders military intervention in Libya". The Economist. 5 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  7. Mezran, Karim (9 October 2015). "The Libyan Agreement: The First Step in a Long Journey". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016.
  8. "GNC-approved Maetig cabinet revealed". Libya Herald. 29 March 2014. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 30 May 2014 suggested (help)
  9. "PROFILE Fayez Sarraj: A Libyan leader with a tough job". Europe Online Magazine. Europe Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016.
  10. Stephen, Chris. "Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli". Chief of Libya's new UN-backed government arrives in Tripoli. The Guardian Newspaper. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  11. "UN proposes unity government to end Libya conflict". Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  12. Benghazi, Associated Press in. "Libyan officials reject UN-proposed unity deal with rival government". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  13. "Support grows for Libya's new unity government". Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  14. "Rebel Tripoli administration vanishes |". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  15. Cairo, Bel Trew (21 February 2017). "Libyan prime minister survives assassination attempt". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  16. "Libya's UN-backed government gets 'no confidence' vote". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  17. Muntasser, Emadeddin Zahri (6 September 2016). "The Coming Fall of Libya's GNA". Foreign Affairs. ISSN 0015-7120. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  18. Pusztai, Wolfgang. "The Failed Serraj Experiment of Libya". Atlantic Council. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2017.

Other websites change

Political offices
Preceded by
Aguila Saleh Issa
as President of the House of Representatives of Libya
Chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council
2016–present
Incumbent
Preceded by
Abdullah al-Thani
Prime Minister of Libya
2016–present