Libya: Political tensions escalate over control of foreign affairs appointments

A new wave of political tension has emerged in Libya after Mohamed al-Menfi, head of the Presidential Council, sent an official letter on Sunday, April 19 to Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. In the letter, al-Menfi asserted that the authority to appoint ambassadors lies solely with the Presidential Council—not with the acting Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He called on the Prime Minister to submit an official candidate for the role in accordance with established procedures.

Suspension of Acting Foreign Affairs Leadership

The Presidential Council went further by announcing the suspension of the acting foreign minister, along with all decisions taken under his authority—particularly those related to sovereign matters.

Libya has been without an official foreign minister since the summer of 2023, when Najla Mangoush was dismissed following a controversial meeting with her Israeli counterpart in Rome, which sparked widespread public outrage.

Power Struggles Intensify Amid International Mediation Efforts

These internal disputes have intensified in recent weeks, fueled by reports of a proposal from United States aimed at reunifying Libya’s divided executive power.

According to leaks, Masaad Boulos, the U.S. Special Envoy for Africa, suggested a political arrangement in which a son of Khalifa Haftar would lead the Presidential Council, while Dbeibah would remain Prime Minister of a unified government.

Legal Ambiguities Fuel Institutional Rivalries

Political analysts and party leaders in Libya have pointed to the 2021 political agreement as a source of ongoing friction. They argue that the text remains vague regarding the distribution of powers between institutions, leaving room for competing interpretations and recurring power struggles.