TRIPOLI/TUNIS: Libya’s United Nations-backed government has appointed a finance minister and deputy finance minister in a move it hopes will unlock crucial funding from the central bank and revive its flagging fortunes.

But the appointments by the Government of National Accord are likely to anger power brokers in eastern Libya because they have not been approved by a rival Parliament based there which does not recognize the authority of the GNA. The GNA has struggled to secure and disburse funds since it arrived in Tripoli in March, hindering its attempts to end conflict and economic collapse.

The GNA leadership, known as the Presidential Council, said in a statement it was appointing Osama Saleh, aligned with eastern factions, as finance minister, and Abubakr al-Jafal as his deputy. It also named deputy ministers for local government and foreign affairs.

The nominations follow an international meeting on Libya in London last month that aimed to mend a dispute between the Presidential Council and the central bank of Libya and to prevent further financial and political chaos. During the London meeting the CBL agreed in principle to make 8.6 billion dinars ($6 billion) available to the council, including 5 billion for public-salary payments, 800 million dinars for electricity credits and 600 million dinars for the National Oil Corporation, Libya’s Audit Bureau has said.