UN envoy condemns assassination attempt on Libya’s Interior Minister

The UN secretary-general’s Special Envoy for Libya Jan Kubis has condemned an assassination attempt on the UN-backed government’s Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha in the capital city of Tripoli.

“Special Envoy for Libya Jan Kubis condemns and expresses grave concern over the serious security incident, targeting MoI Fathi Bashagha,” the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) tweeted.

“Such reckless acts pose threats to stability and security and aim at derailing the political process and other efforts in support of Libya and its people,” the UNSMIL said.

Kubis called for a full, rapid and transparent investigation into the incident “that once again proves how important it is to keep all the arms only in the hands of the legitimate authorities.”

Bashagha survived the assassination attempt on Sunday when gunmen opened fire on his convoy in the west of Tripoli, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The minister’s security guards fired back at the gunmen, killing one of them and capturing two others, while one guard was injured, according to the ministry.

Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Hauwa Mustapha