Libya’s parliament ousts Speaker Saleh after 12 years amid escalating discontent.
Libya’s political landscape has recently witnessed a significant transformation, as the eastern-based House of Representatives voted to replace longtime speaker Aguila Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi. This pivotal change reflects broader discontent within the legislature, signaling a potential shift in governance that may impact the ongoing political divisions within the country. The new election occurs amidst aspirations for unity and reform, as Libya seeks to consolidate its political framework ahead of upcoming elections.
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has elected a new speaker, ending Aguila Saleh’s 12-year tenure amid growing dissatisfaction among lawmakers regarding his leadership. In a vote held on Tuesday within the 170-member House, legislators replaced Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, as confirmed by the parliament’s spokesperson on social media platform X.
This vote took place shortly after 98 members approved a groundbreaking measure that limits the terms of the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month period, effectively dissolving an arrangement that had been in place since the chamber’s initial leadership election in 2014. Lawmaker Jebree Oheida emphasized that there was considerable discontent among members regarding numerous leadership missteps. Oheida expressed that despite attempts to engage with Saleh’s administration to rectify these issues, their concerns were met with indifference, particularly regarding unconsulted decisions.
The election was overseen by Second Deputy Speaker Misbah Douma, according to reports from ZezapTV. Despite the outcome, Saleh previously rejected the legitimacy of the proceedings, describing the vote on term limitations as “not official and having no legal effect.” He had also declared the cancellation of the session he previously scheduled.
These political maneuvers unfold against a backdrop of ongoing divisions in Libya, which is effectively split between the United Nations-recognized government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east, supported by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar. The parliament in Benghazi, under Haftar’s control, is a key aspect of the political landscape.
Historically considered a close ally of the Haftar family, Saleh’s position appears increasingly precarious, especially as Haftar’s sons, notably Saddam Haftar, are solidifying their political influence. Analyst Emadeddin Badi from Chatham House suggested that Saleh’s downfall is emblematic of Saddam Haftar’s efforts to centralize power in eastern Libya and assert a more dominant political role.
Al-Obeidi, who also hails from the same tribe as Saleh, represents the eastern city of Tobruk and has previously chaired the parliament’s Libyan-Turkish friendship committee. Following the election, the assembly also appointed Tarek al-Ashtar and Mesbah Douma as first and second deputy speakers, respectively.
This leadership change coincides with a crucial agreement reached by Libya’s rival political factions in Tripoli in August, aimed at paving the way for presidential and legislative elections within the next two years. The “4+4 committee” agreement, mediated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), seeks to address systemic legal and institutional conflicts that have hindered the nation since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Concurrently, the United States is advancing its reunification strategy for the vital oil and gas-rich North African nation, spearheaded by senior adviser Massad Boulos.
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