There were similar rumors on Friday and Saturday. As of tonight, there is still no confirmation of any appearance of Serraj or the GNA in Tripoli.
The day started off with a shock in that the airports at Mitiga in Tripoli and in Misrata had their airspace closed without any prior notice by the GNC administration. All inbound and outbound traffic was suspended.The head of the Civil Aviation Authority, Yousif Kseiya said flights from both airports resumed at 2 p.m. Sunday after they had been partially suspended for the safety of travelers. He had said Sunday morning that flights would stop from both airports at 8 a.m. and would resume at 2 p.m. The Libya Herald claims security and aviation sources said that armed militias had forced them to leave their post at around 4 a.m. and that airline staff at Mitiga had been advised not to show up for work. A statement from the GNC said that the airspace had been closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for “technical reasons.”
In official statements, both Libyan Airlines and Afrigiyah Airways claimed they had been given no reasons for the closure of the airspace. Rumors persisted and Libyan Wings put out a statement denying that Serraj and members of the GNA were being transported on a flight out of Tunisia. Jamal Zubia of the GNC administration also put out a statement saying that Serraj and members of the GNA were not being flown in by any Libyan airlines,.
There were even rumors that Serraj had resigned and that Tunisian authorities gave the GNA a deadline by which to leave the country. These rumors were denied by Fathi Ben Essa Serraj’s media advisor.Obviously there are rumors being spread, often as propaganda, by one side or the other.
There have been reports of gunfire in the city. There was a strong checkpoint on the coastal road to Janzur on the way to Palm City resort where it is thought the GNA will stay. Ben Essa issued a statement saying: ‘’At the end of the day, the (GNA) Security Committee is working on executing the job professionally and responsibly. Its motto is the safety of the citizen first and foremost. And enabling the Presidential Council to start its responsibilities to its citizens with a spirit that says that revenge does not build a nation or create a state, and injustice does not save a people”.
Essa said that when the Security Committee had completed its procedures, the GNA will enter Tripoli “the entry of a loved son of Tripoli with its hands and its heart open to its people.” In concluding his statement, Essa said: ‘’Therefore, the entry of the GNA will not be the entry of victory or revenge, as it knows that in a battle between citizens, the victor is the defeated.” No date has been announced as to when the loved son will be coming. Perhaps he is planning a pleasant surprise.
Several militia groups oppose the entry of the GNA into Tripoli. A number of Misrata militia will apparently defend the GNA: Misrata armed brigades announce the formation of “Crisis Room” dedicated to help unity govt re-locate to the capital #Tripoli. In other Libya news. Ageela Salah, President of the HoR has urged members to attend meetings on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the GNA and also vote on an amendment to the Constitutional Declaration of 2011. The last four meetings have resulted in lack of a quorum.
