Libya unrecognised government gets reshuffle

Libya's unrecognised government has announced a cabinet reshuffle that drastically reduces the number of portfolios but retains Khalifa Ghweil as prime minister.

"The General National Congress voted in favour of a government reshuffle to reduce the number of ministers" from 24 to 12, in addition to the post of prime minister, a GNC source said yesterday.

"Congress believes that such limited government is actually a crisis cabinet," the source said, without elaborating.

Since the 2011 overthrow of dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Libya has been wracked by conflict, with two rival governments along with powerful militias battling for control of key cities and the country's oil riches.
 

Libya Dawn, a coalition of militias including Islamists, seized the capital last year, while the internationally recognised government was forced to flee to Tobruk in the east of the country.

The cabinet reshuffle also comes at a time of a harsh economic crisis.