By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 11 December 2013:
The government has announced the appointment of Dou Al-Tarhouni as temporary head of the Ministry . . .[restrict]of Social Affairs pending the approval by Congress of a new minister to replace Kamila Al-Mazini.
Although Ms Mazini resigned at the end of July citing what she said was the unacceptable silence of the government in the face the deteriorating security situation, she then changed her mind a few days later and has since been acting as if still in post. However, the Council of Ministers accepted her resignation and put the Minister of Sports and Youth, Abdulsalam Guaila in charge of the ministry.
Her refusal to go has been accepted by many of her staff.
When contacted today to comment on Tarhouni’s appointment, ministry spokesman Rabah Abdulati said that the announcement on the Prime Ministry’s website was “incorrect” as Mazini was still minister and carrying out her duties. He suggested the government site might have been hacked or the announcement might have been an old statement from the time of Mazini’s July resignation accidentally reissued.
As for replacements, Abdulati claimed that the government’s nominee, Ahmed Betamer, had been rejected by Congress.
The view that Manzini is still in post was firmly rejected by the Prime Minister’s office. “She has no authority to sign anything or make official decisions whatsoever,” a senior Prime Ministry official told this newspaper today. [/restrict]
