In a controversial move raising both praise and suspicion, Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has announced a sweeping reorganization of the country’s foreign missions, the suspension of government-funded foreign study programs, and the review of select oil contracts. These decisions have prompted debate over whether they mark genuine steps toward reform or calculated maneuvers to extend his grip on power.
Dbeibah issued Decree No. 298 of 2025 ordering the closure of 25 Libyan diplomatic missions abroad. The decree also mandates a comprehensive review and restructuring of embassies, consulates, and foreign missions. Under the new directive, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is tasked with implementing the changes and submitting a detailed progress report within a month.
According to the government, the closures aim to streamline public spending and reallocate resources toward pressing domestic priorities. A new committee—comprising representatives from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Administrative Control Authority, and the Audit Bureau—has been established under Decree No. 192 to study further downsizing of diplomatic staff and propose recommendations for managing the human resource impact of these closures.
In a parallel announcement, Dbeibah suspended the state-sponsored foreign scholarship program, though current students will be allowed to complete their studies without extensions. The government claims that the move, which affects a program reportedly costing Libya nearly half a billion dinars annually, will free up funds for domestic education infrastructure—specifically the development of a National Digital Library to support academic research and education within Libya.The Prime Minister also indicated that certain oil contracts would be reviewed to ensure transparency and national benefit—part of what his administration describes as a broader effort to rein in public spending and correct past mismanagement.
Public and political reaction to Dbeibah’s decisions has been deeply divided. Supporters see the moves as overdue reforms. Libyan journalist Mahmoud Al-Sharkasi called the embassy closures and education policy “a bold and necessary start to reform.” Member of the High Council of State, Mohamed Moazeb, echoed this view, noting that such actions align with long-standing demands from experts, political elites, and the public.
Critics, however, suggest the timing of the announcements signals political calculation. MP Ali Al-Soul argued that Dbeibah’s actions aim to capture domestic and international attention at a time when his government faces increasing pressure to exit the political scene. “He knows the end is near and is trying to cling to power by showing signs of reform,” Al-Soul said.
Political analyst Mohamed Mahfouz agreed, characterizing the measures as last-minute optics designed to ease public discontent and respond to criticism over unrestrained government spending.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Hassan Al-Saghir welcomed the idea of reducing expenditures abroad but stressed that decisions to open or close embassies must be made by the state as a whole—not unilaterally by the government. He suggested Dbeibah’s motives may be to present himself to the UN mission as a responsible leader in hopes of securing a new political mandate that includes figures from both eastern and western Libya.
The decision to suspend scholarships sparked strong backlash on social media, where many users accused the government of hypocrisy. Critics noted that foreign scholarships had already been largely inaccessible to ordinary citizens for years, except for the children of top officials and their associates.
Observers now question whether these measures will influence Libya’s fragile political roadmap, which remains under the oversight of the United Nations. Some fear the decisions may delay progress rather than accelerate it.
In 2023 alone, Libya’s Central Bank criticized both rival governments for contributing to the depreciation of the dinar, citing total public spending exceeding 224 billion dinars. Dbeibah’s government reportedly spent 123 billion of that figure, while the eastern government led by Osama Hammad spent around 59 billion.
Libya currently maintains over 130 embassies and foreign missions. According to a 2023 Audit Bureau report, nearly 1.5 billion dinars were paid in salaries to 3,478 diplomatic and local staff.
As Dbeibah pushes these high-profile measures under the banner of reform, only time will tell whether they contribute meaningfully to political stabilization—or serve merely as a bid to extend his tenure in office.
