Libya's High State Council Calls on GNA's Sarraj to Remain in Office

On Thursday, chairman of Libya's High Council of State (HCS), Khaled Al-Mashri, called on the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, to remain in office and postpone his decision to hand over power until a new presidential council is chosen.

In a statement, Al-Mashry urged Al-Sarraj, to continue performing his duties until a new presidential council is chosen in order to avoid any political vacuum and for the sake of the country's stability.

It also pointed out Al-Mashri's message to al-Sarraj came in light of the exceptional circumstances the country is going through, especially with regard to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, which aims to achieve a unified vision about the new governance structure by reshaping the country's Presidency Council and holding national elections as soon as possible.

In September, the Tripoli-based GNA Premier announced his resignation in a televised speech to the Libyan people from the capital, Tripoli.

He said that he wants to hand over power to a new administration next month amid inter-Libyan peace talks in Geneva.

Sarraj, a member of the eastern parliament in Tripoli, was appointed in 2015 to lead the presidential council, created by a political agreement that was signed by Libya's factions in Skhirat, Morocco.

Libya was plunged into chaos when a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 toppled longtime ruler Moammar Gadhafi, who was later killed. The country has since split between rival east- and west-based administrations.