On 16 January, Othman al-Taher Issa, one of the leaders of the (Misrata) February 17 Movement, welcomed the decision the day before by Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba to hand over the security of the ports and airports to the ‘official security forces’. However, Issa said it remains to be seen how this will be implemented.
On 19 January, the situation in Misrata and the next steps regarding the Misrata Joint Force were discussed at a meeting of the Municipal Council, the Council of Elders & Notables and the representatives of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High Council of State (HCS) (‘Misrata Representative Assembly’) from Misrata.
The ‘Misrata National Activists’ declared in a rally on the evening of 19 January that the Government of National Unity (GNU) does not represent the city of Misrata, claiming that all orders and statements only represent PM Dabaiba and his ministers. The activists condemned the spread of corruption and the attempts to undermine the living standards of the population. They called on UNSMIL to work with all parties to form a new, neutral consensual unity government to prepare for elections immediately. They said Misrata should form a Coordination Committee to communicate with all patriots in the country.
On 20 January, the Misrata Representative Assembly, led by HCS member and Assembly Coordinator Abu al-Qasim Qazit, met with Attorney General al-Saddiq al-Sour to discuss the latest developments in Misrata. The Assembly discussed the demands regarding the Misrata Joint Force and other militias and how to maintain peace and security, rights and freedoms in accordance with the law. They stressed that it is necessary that the Misrata Security Directorate can fulfill its tasks and control the police and other security forces.