Libyan Revolutionary Leaders’ Assembly: Brotherhood militias to support Nouri Abusahmain

Amira Sherif

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is still attempting new ways to penetrate the Libyan political scene after the Brotherhood’s inability to polarize the street, especially in light of the uprising in Tripoli in rejection of militia rule and the Brotherhood’s control of the capital. In this regard, the Libyan Revolutionary Leaders’ Assembly announced their support for the Ya Baladi movement led by the former chairman of the Brotherhood-affiliated General National Congress, Nouri Abusahmain, claiming that this support comes to save Libya from the state of societal division caused by the illegal Government of National Accord (GNA).

The group said in a statement that after nearly a decade of what they called “our blessed revolution”, they found themselves in a critical humanitarian, political and economic situation due to the power of the failed GNA.

“This regime was imposed on us from abroad, which was the product of a dubious and distorted agreement sponsored by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya and the international community,” the group added, claiming that they had accepted it by blood injections, thinking of the patriotism of its members and their eligibility to rule and bring Libya to safety.

“After five years, the maliciousness of this failed regime has become clear to everyone. Rather, its existence has become a crisis in itself,” the group said. “The level of mass tension reached its peak as a result of the deterioration of living conditions in all aspects. The collapse of the state and the division of Libyan society has become an imminent threat, which requires us to address it as soon as possible.”

“Therefore, we, a group of leaders, political and economic elites, and civil society, decided to assume our historical and moral responsibilities towards our beloved country, Libya, by establishing an assembly of leaders of Libyan revolutionaries to support Ya Baladi,” the statement added, noting that they felt in this movement to be honest, sincere and patriots, in addition to preserving the principles of their revolution to guarantee freedom, security and justice for all on the basis of a fair constitution that guarantees both rights and duties.

Former General National Congress Chairman Nouri Abusahmain, who is known to have supported armed militias from 2013 to 2014, announced in mid-July the opening of an office for Ya Baladi in Tripoli, while Erdogan was behind the movement’s establishment.

“It will be translated on the ground and we will preach to all the fans of this movement and those who join, as branches will be opened in other cities, and some of them are ready, which will be announced in a timely manner,” Abusahmain said at the opening.

He affirmed that he will meet everyone who wants to join this movement, saying, “Whoever wants to inquire, the field is open, and meeting does not mean that it is necessary to join or not. This current is to serve our beloved country, and we may agree on a common vision that unites us in this movement.”

Previously, Abusahmain called for what he described as national figures who believe in the country, its people, identity, religion, customs and social structure, and the right to live a decent life, enjoying permanent peace, just development for all, economic prosperity, freedom and dignity, and to obtain the fruit of his struggle by putting their hands together to launch an entirely new political trend.

Abusahmain said that Ya Baladi would be a current that unites and does not divide, builds and does not destroy, adding “The diverse patriotism is based on a national project that achieves a civil state based on the spirit of equal citizenship through a stage of achieving national reconciliation that achieves justice among people and equity for those affected.”

“Ya Baladi believes in the right of all Libyans, regardless of their political, social and cultural backgrounds, to live in complete freedom on the land of Libya, in a state that guarantees equal opportunities for all citizens without discrimination, and believes that the solution in Libya is not owned by any ideology, party, sect or tribe, but is a solution that all Libyan people make in order to get out of these constricted circumstances to a horizon for the nation. It believes that the state is responsible for its citizens, young and old, guaranteeing retirees a decent life that raises their level of income and gives young people the full opportunity supported by experience to achieve their ambitions. It believes that there is no state without sovereignty, no state without international alliances or regional relations, but what is absent here is the national trend, which builds all these relationships not for personal, party or ideological benefit, but for the benefit of all our people and our country as a whole,” he added.

Observers believe that the Turks are well aware that the Brotherhood is popularly and politically rejected, so they decided to form a new political current that consists of leaders from the remnants of the fighting group and some Brotherhood leaders who splintered from Libya’s Justice and Construction Party (JCP), as well as the warlords and remnants of militant groups fleeing the eastern region.