Libya’s eastern govt orders arrest of Tobruk mayor

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya

Libya’s eastern-based government issued a warrant late Wednesday for the arrest of Naji Mazeq, mayor of the city of Tobruk, which is home to a legislative assembly linked to the government.

According to local media reports, the warrant was issued due to Mazeq’s suspected “dealings with” a rival UN-backed “unity government” based in capital Tripoli.

The eastern government, based in the coastal city of Al-Bayda (265 kilometers west of Tobruk), issued the warrant for Mazeq’s arrest after officials from Tobruk’s municipal council met with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, who currently heads up the Tripoli government, according to a statement released by the latter’s office.

Speaking to local media, Mazeq voiced his “surprise” over Wednesday’s arrest warrant, which was reportedly issued by the eastern government’s Interior Ministry.

Mazeq told Libya’s Bawabat al-Wasat website that Tobruk’s municipal council had contacted officials in Tripoli “with a view to resolving grievances suffered by Tobruk residents after the [Al-Bayda-based] government had failed to do so”.

On Sunday, Abdullah al-Thani, prime minister of the Al-Bayda government, ordered the arrest of all local officials found dealing with the government in Tripoli.

Libya has remained in political limbo since 2011, when a bloody uprising led to the ouster and death of longstanding President Muammar Gaddafi after more than four decades in power.

The ensuing political vacuum led to the emergence of several rival power centers and competing seats of government and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.