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The arrival in Tripoli from Benghazi earlier today of a Transitional National Council (TNC) advance party to tackle the logistics of the imminent transfer of the TNC from its original north eastern stronghold to the capital in Libya’s north west, is an indication of the political will to press ahead without delay with the re-construction of the state after the fall of the regime.
Moving to Tripoli is symbolically important. It will send a powerful signal that the opposition to Gheddafi’s forty two year-old authoritarian rule will not lead to Libya’s dismemberment or to inter-tribal conflict. Waiting a day more than absolutely necessary before establishing itself in Tripoli; will dent the TNC’s image as a national state-in-formation and will fuel suspicion that it is a government dominated by personnel from a particular region with particular tribal connections. The TNC is committed to building a democratic state off all Libyans.
Moving to Tripoli is also technically important. From there it will be easier for the TNC to communicate with opposition forces everywhere on Libyan territory and to take over ministries, government departments and public sector entities, most of which have their head offices in the capital.
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