Members of Libya’s 200-strong national assembly have elected Mustafa Abu Shagour as the country’s new prime minister.
Reports says Mr. Shagour won 96 votes. He beat the liberal candidate Mahmud Jibril by just two votes.
Mr. Shagour is expected to take control of Libya’s transitional administration for the next 18 months.
The United Nations envoy in Libya today congratulated Mustafa Abushagur on his election as the new Prime Minister of the North African nation.
“Ian Martin extends his warmest congratulations.” -Secretary-General’s Special Representative Mr. Martin of UN Support Mission in Libya
UN Photo
SRSG Martin also congratulates the General National Congress (GNC) on the transparent process to elect Libya’s Prime Minister
Mr. Shagour is a US-trained optical engineer.
In July this year, some 2.7 million Libyan people have registered to vote for members of the new National Congress.
Reports say the election was the country’s first free poll in almost half a century.
The polls were originally slated to be held in late June. The elections were the first free elections in decades in Libya.
Reports says more than 3,000 candidates ran for office, including more than 600 women.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon congratulated the Libyan people for their determination to vote and to start anew after the revolution.
Mr. Ban hailed Libya’s High national Election Commission and the thousands of electoral staff “who ensured well-conducted and transparent polling.
In addition, Mr. Ban also looks forward to the successful completion of the Libyan-managed electoral process.
The UN chief also expressed his appreciation to the candidates and political groups that contested the election in a peaceful and democratic spirit.
In February this year, the citizens of Libya marked its first anniversary of the country’s uprising against Muammar Gaddafi with spontaneous celebrations nationwide.
Citizens in all ages went out on the streets of Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata and other towns to begin the celebrations by setting off firecrackers and chanting slogans.
The celebrations were led by residents of Benghazi, the city which first rose against Gaddafi and his 42-year-old regime.
The United States of America today also joined with Libyans around the world in marking the one-year anniversary of their historic revolution.
The United States has pledged support as Libya tackles these challenges together with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, and other international partners who stand ready to help.
Libya has been engulfed by fighting since a pro-democracy movement opposed to the regime of Muammar al-Qadhafi emerged in February 2011 following similar protests in Tunisia, Egypt and other countries across North Africa and the Middle East.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the fighting and hundreds of thousands of others have been internally displaced or forced to flee to neighbouring countries.
The United States has played a central role in marshalling the international response to the crisis in Libya. Together with its partners, they have saved thousands of lives and helped confront a ruthless, erratic dictator who was poised to slaughter his own people in order to hold on to power.
Muammar Gaddafi was killed at his home town of Sirte on October 2011 when he was overrun by fighters seeking to complete the eight-month uprising.
Gaddafi’s demise marks the end of a 42 year rule of a dysfunctional brutal regime that was ruled by fear, torture and executions. Its mismanagement of the economy brought ruin to Libya and impoverished the Libyan people despite the huge oil and gas wealth.
