Latest news with #Dbaiba
Libya Review
20 hours ago
- Business
- Libya Review
Italian Report: Libya Becomes Strategic Platform for Turkish Ambitions
Turkey is taking advantage of Libya's ongoing turmoil to strengthen its position across the southern Mediterranean, according to a new report published by the Italian Institute for International Relations (IAI). The report describes how Ankara has steadily increased its presence in Libya, using the lack of political unity and security in the country to advance its long-term regional plans. Over the past few years, Turkish influence in Libya has grown through military, political, and economic channels. This approach reflects earlier strategic thinking from former Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, who placed Libya at the center of Turkey's regional ambitions. According to the IAI, the Libyan conflict has provided the Turkish government with an opening to reinforce its role in North Africa and secure its access to energy and maritime assets in the Mediterranean. The recent outbreak of violence in Tripoli, following the death of militia leader Abdulghani al-Kikli, gave Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba stronger control over the capital. Several armed groups connected to the Ministry of Defense, including Brigade 444, Brigade 111, and the Joint Operations Force, tightened their grip. Many of these groups maintain strong links with Ankara. The report suggests that the removal of al-Kikli may have created a more favorable environment for Dbaiba and, by extension, for Turkey. At the same time, Turkey has adjusted its approach across Libya. While maintaining close ties with the government in Tripoli, Ankara has also opened channels in the east. Turkish representatives have visited Benghazi, and Ankara has invested in infrastructure and construction projects in areas controlled by the rival administration. The report also connects this strategy shift to the recent thaw in Turkish-Egyptian relations. Since the September 2024 meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, both sides have spoken of working together to calm tensions in Libya and support a unified government. However, Turkey's ongoing military cooperation with Dbaiba, particularly through a defense agreement granting Turkish forces access to Libyan airspace, ports, and territory, has raised concerns in Cairo. The IAI warns that other powers, especially Egypt and Russia, may push back against Turkey's moves. Both countries remain active in eastern Libya and continue to support their allies there. Russia retains a strong military presence despite the war in Ukraine, and Egypt is still seeking to protect its influence, even after resuming talks with Ankara. The report concludes that Libya is becoming a battleground not just for local rivals, but for broader competition involving Turkey, Russia, Egypt, and the European Union, especially over migration, oil, and control of key maritime routes. Tags: EgyptItalylibyaMediterraneanTurkey
Libya Review
a day ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Anti-Government Protests Sweep Western Libya for 3rd Week
For the third Friday in a row, massive crowds have taken to the streets of Libya's capital, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba and the dissolution of his Government of National Unity. The protests, now entering their third week, have become one of the most sustained and serious challenges to the current leadership since it came to power in 2021. Thousands of protesters gathered in Tripoli's Martyrs' Square waving red cards, a symbolic demand for the government to step down, and chanting slogans such as 'The people want the fall of the government.' The demonstrators accuse Dbaiba of failing to deliver on his promises to improve security, fight corruption, and lead the country to elections after years of political division. The latest wave of anger was sparked by the killing of militia leader Abdulghani al-Kikli, known as 'Ghneiwa,' in mid-May. The incident led to violent clashes among rival armed groups after Dbaiba suddenly dissolved the Stability Support Apparatus, which Ghneiwa had headed. The resulting chaos revealed how deeply militias still control large parts of the capital and how little authority the civilian government actually holds. In a televised address, Dbaiba called the violence a 'shared mistake' and blamed the ongoing instability on rogue armed factions. However, many Libyans saw his words as weak and evasive. Fueling further outrage are revelations that cancer medication was imported from Iraq under pressure from militias—an admission made by Dbaiba himself, which has raised new questions about corruption and government complicity. What began in Tripoli has now spread to other cities, including Misrata, Zawiya, Sabratha, and Surman. Misrata, Dbaiba's hometown, witnessed significant protests last week, signaling that dissatisfaction is not limited to the capital. At the same time, several government ministers have resigned, suggesting that Dbaiba is losing support from within his own administration. As the protests grow in size and scope, Libya's House of Representatives has moved to form a new unified government. Lawmakers met in Benghazi this week to hear proposals from 12 candidates vying to lead the next phase of the country's political transition. Whether this move will calm public anger or further deepen divisions remains to be seen. What is clear is that Libya is at a political crossroads. With the public demanding change and institutions showing signs of fracture, the coming weeks may determine whether Dbaiba can cling to power or if the protest movement marks the end of his leadership. Tags: Abdul Hamid DbaibalibyaparliamentProteststripoliWest Libya
Libya Review
4 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
Dbaiba Rejects Parliament's Attempt to Form New Government
On Wednesday, Libya's Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba firmly rejected efforts by the Parliament to appoint a new government, warning against what he described as a return to 'unproductive transitional phases.' Speaking during a meeting with the First Deputy President of the High Council of State and several of its members at the Prime Minister's Office, Dbaiba stated that such steps lack popular legitimacy and do not reflect the will of the Libyan people. Dbaiba reiterated that the only path forward is to end the cycle of interim governments and move directly toward holding comprehensive and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections. 'There is no legitimacy to any attempt that prolongs the crisis,' he said, calling for a public referendum as a decisive mechanism to bypass political paralysis. He criticised the leadership of the House of Representatives for deliberately stalling the electoral process, accusing them of obstructing the path to a unified and democratic Libya. 'Our vision is to permanently end transitional stages and fulfill the demands of the people through the ballot box, not through imposed political deals,' Dbaiba said. On the security front, the Prime Minister emphasized his government's ongoing commitment to dismantling armed groups operating outside state authority. He stressed the importance of consolidating formal military and police institutions as essential pillars for national stability and law enforcement. Dbaiba also urged enhanced coordination between the government and the High Council of State to overcome artificial political obstacles and advance institutional reform. 'It's time to unite behind a national agenda focused on rebuilding state institutions, restoring security, and enabling elections,' he added. This statement comes as the Libyan parliament accelerates its push to name a replacement government. However, Dbaiba remains defiant, underscoring that any such move, in his view, would only deepen division and derail the political process. Tags: Abdul Hamid DbaibalibyaparliamentPrime MinisterUnified Government
Libya Review
6 days ago
- Politics
- Libya Review
'Libya Build' Expo Turns to Battleground as Militias Overrun Capital
Libya may have just hosted 'the world's worst conference.' The event, held in Tripoli on May 12 under the title 'Libya Build', was promoted as the largest construction expo ever organized in North Africa, according to The Economist. It attracted international delegates from China, Turkey, and Malta, with the optimistic slogan: 'Let's Build Libya Together.' Instead, what unfolded was a descent into chaos. As guests arrived, mortars began falling. Gunmen in trucks mounted with heavy machine guns seized control of half the capital. Burned-out cars lined the streets. Schools, banks, and markets shut their gates. Militias stormed the Central Bank. Even the gazelles were stolen from Tripoli's zoo. Britain abruptly reversed its recently eased travel advice, urging citizens to avoid the capital, while Turkey airlifted its nationals to safety. This breakdown underscored the failure of Tripoli's post-Gaddafi 'reset.' The Government of National Unity (GNU) in the west, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba, once a construction tycoon, was always weaker than Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the General Commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA). Unlike Haftar, Dbaiba's authority relies on a precarious coalition of militias. As Libya's oil revenues declined and government funds dwindled, Dbaiba's payouts decreased, prompting unrest among the very groups that once supported him. The immediate trigger was reportedly financial: with the coffers empty, militias sought new income by, for instance, kidnapping utility executives. Then, in a move meant to neutralize a threat, Dbaiba's forces killed militia leader Abdul Ghani al-Kikli during a meeting. The assassination provoked Tripoli's most powerful armed group, the Salafist Special Deterrence Force (Rada), which retaliated and took control of half the capital. In the aftermath, Tripolitanians, exhausted by years of misrule and broken promises, took to the streets demanding elections, an end to militia dominance, and reunification of Libya. Many now view Dbaiba as one of the 'fulul'—a term used to describe holdovers from the Gaddafi era. Dbaiba, seen by many diplomats as a fading figure, is said to have sent his family to London. Desperate to appear in control, he called fighters from his hometown of Misrata to secure Tripoli. They reportedly fired on demonstrators. With Tripoli's main airport under Rada's control, Dbaiba reopened the long-closed international airport and vowed to turn Kikli's former militia base into a public park. He has branded remaining militias 'blackmailers, criminals, and sharks.' But without their support, his grip grows increasingly fragile. His ministers have begun to resign. Parliament has declared Dbaiba 'illegitimate' and named potential successors. Meanwhile, reports suggest troop movements in Sirte, Zawiya, Zintan, and Ghadames, possibly in preparation for a broader push by Haftar's forces. For now, Dbaiba remains in office, but, as The Economist concludes, 'Libyans and foreign diplomats have begun to speak of his rule in the past tense.' At least, with the airport reopened, 'he has a way to escape'.
Libya Review
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Libya's NHRI Demands Probe into Dbaiba Government
Libya's National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) has issued a damning statement accusing Prime Minister Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba's Government of National Unity (GNU) of committing a 'political crime' by coercing thousands of civil servants and military personnel to participate in a staged pro-government rally in Martyrs' Square, Tripoli. According to the NHRI, it received verified complaints from public sector employees who reported being subjected to 'direct pressure and explicit threats,' including termination, forced transfers, and suspension of salaries, should they fail to attend the gathering. The institution condemned the move as a 'flagrant violation of the Libyan constitution, national laws, and international human rights obligations.' 'Thousands of state employees were compelled to take part in pro-Dbaiba demonstrations — a scenario Libya has not witnessed even during its darkest authoritarian eras,' the statement read. The NHRI emphasized that this act constitutes a crime involving the misuse of state institutions and public resources to impose political loyalty through coercion. It added that the government's actions reflect 'the most repressive aspects of authoritarian rule' and contribute to the erosion of civil freedoms in Libya. The statement also warned of the grave implications of militarizing state institutions. It revealed that military personnel, police forces, and armed brigades — particularly from the city of Misrata — were reportedly pressured to join the orchestrated demonstrations. 'Forcing soldiers and police officers into political displays sets a dangerous precedent and undermines national unity, democratic integrity, and the people's demand for fair elections and legitimate governance,' the NHRI warned. The human rights body announced it will submit an urgent official complaint to the Attorney General's Office, including names of government officials implicated in the operation and supporting documentation from aggrieved civil servants. Additionally, the NHRI confirmed that it has begun documenting all related violations for submission to relevant international human rights bodies. 'We call for an immediate, independent investigation into Prime Minister Dbaiba and the involved ministers,' the statement concluded. 'This is not just a violation of civil rights — it is a political and ethical collapse.' Tags: Abdel-Hamid DbaibaHuman RightslibyaNHRItripoli
