Libya's Parliament Ousts Longtime Speaker Aguila Saleh Amid Growing Lawmaker Frustration

Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has chosen a new speaker, bringing an end to Aguila Saleh’s 12-year tenure following mounting dissatisfaction among legislators regarding his leadership. Lawmakers within the 170-member House convened on Tuesday to substitute Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, as announced by the parliament’s spokesperson on X.

The ballot occurred a day after 98 members of the House endorsed a novel framework restricting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term, concluding a system active since the chamber’s initial leadership election in 2014. Lawmaker Jebree Oheida informed the Reuters news agency about significant frustration among MPs concerning the former leadership's numerous errors and unilateral decisions made without consulting members.

The session was supervised by Second Deputy Speaker Misbah Douma, according to the Libya Observer. Previously, Saleh dismissed the proceedings, asserting that the initial vote restricting his term lacked official status and legal effect, and stated he had canceled the Tuesday session.

These developments unfold as Libya remains politically and militarily fractured between the United Nations-recognised government in Tripoli, headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and an opposing administration in the east supported by military commander Khalifa Haftar. Haftar’s faction depends heavily on the parliament situated in the eastern city of Benghazi under their command.

While Saleh was long viewed as a reliable ally of the Haftar clan, analysts indicate he has grown vulnerable as Haftar’s sons, particularly Saddam Haftar, consolidate authority. Emadeddin Badi, an analyst at Chatham House in London, noted that Saleh appears to be a casualty of Saddam Haftar's push to centralize decision-making in eastern Libya.

Al-Obeidi, sharing a tribal background with Saleh, hails from Tobruk and previously led parliament’s Libyan-Turkish friendship committee. Additionally, the House elected Tarek al-Ashtar and Mesbah Douma as first and second deputy speakers.

These elections follow an August agreement in Tripoli signed by Libya’s rival political factions, mediated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), aiming for presidential and legislative elections within two years. Simultaneously, the United States advances a distinct reunification strategy for the nation, spearheaded by Massad Boulos, senior adviser for Arab and African affairs to President Donald Trump.