1. Former interior minister
This early revolutionary with rectangular glasses served as interior minister during Fayez al-Sarraj’s government of national accord.
As such, he was at the forefront when Tripoli forces resisted Khalifa Haftar’s offensive in April 2019.
2. Ambitious
Fathi Bashagha has been very open about his desire to play a leading role in the Libya of tomorrow. This aspiration once put him at odds with Sarraj, who tried to sack him.
3. Misrata
Hailing from the powerful city of Misrata, which is home to some of the country’s best trained and equipped militias, he can count on the support of many of them, just like when he was briefly dismissed in August 2020.
4. The US
Libya’s unofficial prime minister has good contacts abroad, including in Washington, which, through its embassy in Tripoli, talked up the quality of its “partnership” with Bashagha when the latter was
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