Libya is experiencing a severe division among its political factions in response to the House of Representatives’ declaration of ending the mandate of the executive authority led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. This decision also designates Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh as the Supreme Commander of the Army, a move welcomed by the National Army but condemned by the Presidential Council, the High Council of State, and the Government of National Unity.
In a statement, Abdullah Bliheg, the spokesperson for the House of Representatives, said, “the House of Representatives has unanimously voted to end the mandate of the executive authority that came with the transitional phase and to recognize Osama Hamad’s government as the legitimate government until a unified government is chosen.” He added that “the Supreme Commander of the Army is considered to be the Speaker of the House, as per the constitutional declaration and the House’s decision in this regard.”
During the House of Representatives’ official session, Aguila Saleh stated that “there is no solution to end the conflict and crisis in the country other than the distribution of wealth among the regions,” adding, “we must take our national responsibility because we are at a critical stage, and work on reconciliation, building a local governance authority, ending centralization, and naming the provinces.” He continued, “we have tried and made concessions to reach an agreement that satisfies everyone, but there is a group that wants to keep the situation as it is,” considering that “the transitional phase that brought the current Presidential Council and Dbeibeh’s government has ended with the expiration of its terms, and the executive authority has not achieved any of what was stipulated in the Geneva Agreement,” emphasizing the need to “reconsider the Geneva Agreement to serve the public interest.”
A dispute has arisen over the results of the election for the President of the High Council of State between its current head, Mohamed Taqala, and his rival, Khaled Al-Meshri, over a disputed ballot paper among council members. Taqala received 68 votes during the election, while his rival received 69 votes, prompting Taqala to announce he would seek a judicial resolution to the dispute. Meanwhile, the council’s legal committee declared Khaled Al-Meshri the winner, who stated he began his work at the council’s headquarters in Tripoli. Al-Meshri noted that “the executive authority is the Presidential Council and the Government of National Unity, and the Supreme Commander of the Army is the Presidential Council, according to the Geneva Agreement,” considering that “any change in the political scene should involve all Libyans through a suitable and agreed mechanism.” In another statement, Al-Meshri described the decision to “withdraw the title of Supreme Commander of the Army from the Presidential Council” as “invalid,” asserting that it “violates Article 12 of the Political Agreement” due to “non-consensus with the High Council of State.”
The Libyan National Army welcomed the House of Representatives’ decision regarding the title and powers of the Supreme Commander, “which belongs to the House of Representatives, the only constitutionally legitimate body elected by the Libyan people.” The National Army emphasized the “need to conduct the presidential and parliamentary elections that the Libyan people are looking forward to, to achieve lasting stability.”
Despite reaching a ceasefire agreement in 2020 and forming the Presidential Council and Government of National Unity the following year as a temporary executive authority to attempt to reunify state institutions, the House of Representatives’ new decision is likely to deepen divisions as the specter of a new conflict looms. The High Council of State has warned of military movements by the National Army in the southwestern region of the country, accusing it of seeking to expand its control areas, thereby threatening the 2020 ceasefire agreement.
Experts believe that the House of Representatives’ decisions aim to pressure the international community to hold elections as soon as possible, and to pressure Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh to proceed with these elections, driven by fears of worsening living conditions in the country.
Meanwhile, Musa Koni, a member of the Presidential Council, issued strong warnings during a press conference about the risk of Libya splitting and approaching a new war. He blamed all political and military parties for failing to find solutions to the crisis and effectively manage the state. He noted that Libya is now divided, with its citizens united only by their passports and flag, pointing out the presence of two separate governments, the division of funds, and the armies watching each other. He warned that these forces could act at any moment to start a new war and push Libya back into conflict. Koni held all Libyan officials responsible for the state’s failure, describing them as “lords of the sects” who rule separately without any control over the situation, comparing the current situation to historical Andalusia, where brothers fought each other and sects allied with enemies, leading to their defeat, as he described it. He emphasized the need to maintain Libya’s unity and not abandon any part of its territory, affirming that the ongoing crises have caused the country to regress.
On the other hand, the UN mission expressed concern about the “unilateral actions” being carried out by Libyan parties and institutions in the country’s east, west, and south. It stated that unilateral actions lead to escalating tension, undermining trust, and deepening institutional division and discord among Libyans. The mission reminded all political leaders and various institutions of their commitments under the Libyan Political Agreement and its amendments, in line with all Security Council resolutions. It stressed that unilateral actions in the current climate lead to increased tension, undermine trust, and deepen divisions among Libyans, urging all parties to engage in dialogue and reach compromises that serve the interests of all Libyans. The mission affirmed it would continue consultations with Libyan leaders and regional parties to reach a consensus and advance efforts to end the ongoing political deadlock.
All publishing rights and copyrights reserved to MENA Research Center.
