Libya’s eastern House of Representatives replaced Aguila Saleh after 12 years with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi after changing its leadership rules. Saleh disputes the legal validity of the amendment that limited terms. The vote reshapes the leadership of a legislature central to the eastern political camp, while the country’s rival governments remain divided and international efforts to reunify its institutions continue.
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives replaced Aguila Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi on October 6. The new speaker represents Tobruk. The change ends Saleh’s 12 years at the head of a legislature operating within the country’s divided political institutions.[1], [2]
Tarek al-Ashtar and Mesbah Douma became deputy speakers. Obeidi previously chaired the Libyan–Turkish friendship committee and belongs to the same tribe as Saleh.[1]
The leadership vote followed Monday’s amendment introducing a single 12-month term for parliamentary leadership positions. It received support from 98 lawmakers. The preceding rules dated to 2014 and had allowed Saleh to remain in office. Saleh challenged the amendment’s legal validity and cancelled the parliamentary session he had called for Tuesday. Lawmaker Jebreel Oheida described dissatisfaction with decisions Saleh took alone.[1]
Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah leads the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, while military commander Khalifa Haftar backs the rival eastern administration. The eastern parliament has been a political support for Haftar’s camp. International initiatives seek to reunify the institutions. An August agreement mediated by the UN Support Mission in Libya aims to resolve legal and institutional disputes and allow presidential and legislative elections within two years.[1]
