Audio By Carbonatix
Libya's Prime Minister-elect has been dismissed from his post, after failing for a second time to win parliamentary approval for a new cabinet.
Mustafa Abu Shagur had called for the formation of an "emergency government", consisting of just 10 ministries.
The General National Congress (GNC) voted 125 to 44 against the proposal. Seventeen members abstained.
Mr Shagur was Libya's first elected prime minister following last year's overthrow of Col Muammar Gaddafi.
He had served as deputy prime minister for more than a year under interim leader Abdurrahim al-Keib.
The GNC now has three to four weeks to elect a new premier.
Political games
Mr Shagur's second and final offer consisted of just 10 ministries, as opposed to the 29 he offered last week.
Before the vote he told the GNC it was a proposal to lead Libya with no regionalism, and urged members to "assume its responsibilities at this historic time".
"In face of the dangers threatening the country, I present to you a crisis government restricted to 10 ministers, rejecting all geographical considerations," Mr Shagur earlier told the GNC.
His first cabinet line-up was rejected late on Thursday on the basis that it was not representative of important regions and lacked qualified members.
The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says some cities like Zawiya, Benghazi, and Misrata, lost a lot of fighters during the battle to overthrow Gaddafi, and are demanding greater representation in the new government.
During the assembly debate, protesters - mostly from Zawiya - stormed the Congress building in the capital Tripoli, calling for the prime minister's resignation.
Mr Shagur had initially aimed for a unity government and what he described as "people with merit" to work with him.
However, he said that when he consulted with political parties, some had pursued their own agendas. He said one party had demanded 11 seats, and another nine.
Mr Shagur has said he would not give in to pressure and political games.
He studied at the University of Tripoli before moving to the US, where he earned a PhD and worked as an academic and optical engineer.
Mr Shagur returned in 2011 to become an adviser to the National Transitional Council, which was formed during the revolt that ousted Gaddafi.
In September, he was elected by the national assembly to be the country's next prime minister, in a run-off vote in which he narrowly beat Mahmoud Jibril - who served as interim prime minister following the overthrow of the regime.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
SSNIT commits to strengthening investment portfolio to safeguard pensions
57 seconds -
Traditional ruler bemoans decline in academic performance in Ada
5 minutes -
2025/26 Ghana League: Bechem United boost survival hopes with narrow win over GoldStars
6 minutes -
CDM urges Mahama to reset governance after ‘missed opportunities’ in first year
10 minutes -
Insecurity and weak accountability undermine Mahama’s first year – CDM
11 minutes -
Government pays $393m in IPP debts as part of energy sector reset
16 minutes -
Mahama gov’t clears $1.47bn energy sector debt, restores World Bank Guarantee
20 minutes -
Mahama’s first year marked by failure to tackle galamsey – CDM
21 minutes -
Djorkpo Abuvienu residents cry for abandoned CHPS Compound to be completed
26 minutes -
Mahama’s first year: CDM condemns sacking of Chief Justice, cites threat to democracy
28 minutes -
Power, dust, and the parable of Ken Ofori-Atta on ICE
30 minutes -
Mahama’s first year: High cost of living persists despite exchange rate stability – CDM
37 minutes -
Beyond the arrest: Why fight against galamsey is failing in the courtroom
50 minutes -
National Security turns to public clean-up to curb prostitution in Tamale
1 hour -
2026 is the make-or-break year for Ghana’s cannabis industry – Chamber
1 hour
