Libya: The Libyan administration announced on its Facebook page, “The unity government, headed by businessman Fayez al-Sarraj, who was named prime minister-designate under the UN-sponsored accord, comprises 32 ministers”. UN envoy Martin Kobler wrote on Twitter, “I congratulate Libyan people & Presidency Council on formation of government of National Accord”.

There was no immediate reaction from the country’s two legislatures. Kobler, a veteran German diplomat, became UN special envoy for Libya in November, taking on his predecessor Bernardino Leon’s task of brokering a unity government. Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 ouster of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. A militia alliance including Islamists overran Tripoli in August 2014, establishing its own government and parliament and causing the internationally recognised administration to flee to the country’s remote east.

On December 17, under UN guidance, around 80 of 188 lawmakers from Libya’s internationally recognised parliament and 50 of 136 members of the Tripoli-based General National Congress signed the unity government deal. On Sunday, Kobler held private talks with the speaker of the internationally recognised legislature, Aguila Saleh, to discuss the latest developments, the national news agency LANA reported.