Presidential Council (Libya)

The Presidential Council (Arabic: المجلس الراسي, al-Majlis ar-Rīʾāsiy) is a body formed under the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement which was signed on 17 December 2015. The Council carries out the functions of head of state of Libya[1] and is proposed to command the Libyan Armed Forces. The agreement has been unanimously endorsed by the United Nations Security Council which welcomed the formation of the Presidency Council and recognized that the Government of National Accord is the sole legitimate executive government of Libya.[2]

Presidential Council
المجلس الرئاسي
Agency overview
Formed2016 (2016)
JurisdictionLibya
HeadquartersAl-Sikka
Tripoli, Libya
Agency executive
Politics of Libya

Arab League Member State of the Arab League

Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Elections
Foreign relations
flag Libya portal

History

Between 2014 and March 2021, two governments, one in Tripoli and one in Tobruk, have vied for power. The government in Tobruk was recognized by the international community prior to the formation of the Presidential Council.[3]

Skhirat agreement

In October 2015, the UN envoy for Libya, Bernardino León, announced a proposal for the House of Representatives to share power with the rival new GNC government, under a compromise prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj. However, the terms of the final proposal were not acceptable to either side, and both rejected it.[4] Nonetheless, the proposal did spark a revised proposal put together by Fayez al-Sarraj and others, which was subsequently supported by the United Nations.[5] On 17 December 2015 members of the House of Representatives and the new General National Congress signed this revised political agreement, generally known as the "Libyan Political Agreement" or the "Skhirat Agreement".[6][7] Under the terms of the agreement, a nine-member Presidency Council and a seventeen-member interim Government of National Accord would have been formed, with a view to holding new elections within two years.[6] The House of Representatives would have continued to exist as a legislature and an advisory body, to be known as the High Council of State, would have been formed with members nominated by the New General National Congress.[8] On 31 December 2015, Chairman of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh Issa declared his support for the Libyan Political Agreement.[7]

The Chairman of the Presidential, Fayez al-Sarraj (former member of the Tobruk parliament), and seven of the council's other members arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016 at the Abu Sittah naval base.[3][9] The following day, it was reported that the GNA has taken control of the prime ministerial offices and that the rival National Salvation Government appointed prime minister Khalifa al-Ghawi had fled to Misrata. On April 5, the National Salvation Government announced that it was resigning, "ceasing operations," and ceding power to the Presidential Council.[10][11][12]

Government of National Unity

On 10 March 2021, the House of Representatives met in the central city of Sirte to formally approve the formation of a Government of National Unity led by Mohamed al-Menfi as chairman of the Presidential Council and Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh as Prime Minister.[13]

Structure

The Presidential Council is led by a Chairman supported by Vice-Chairmen representative of the historical regions of Libya.[14][15] Any decision taken by the Council must be approved unanimously by the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.[15]

March 2021-present

A new Presidential Council was approved by the House of representatives on 10 March 2021, following an agreement reached at the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum under United Nations mediation:[16]

Incumbent Office Since Until Constituency
Mohamed Younis Ahmed Al-Manfi Chairman of the Presidential Council 15 March 2021 Present Representative for Cyrenaica
Abdullah al-Lafi Vice-Chairman 15 March 2021 Present Representative for Tripolitania
Musa Al-Koni Vice-Chairman 15 March 2021 Present Representative for Fezzan

March 2016-March 2021

Between March 2016 and March 2021, the members of the council were:[17]

Incumbent Office Since Until Constituency
Fayez al-Sarraj Chairman of the Presidential Council 30 March 2016 15 March 2021 GNA
Musa Al-Koni Vice-Chairman 30 March 2016 2 January 2017[18] Southern Libya
Fathi Al-Majbari Vice-Chairman 30 March 2016 18 July 2018 GNA
Abdulsalam Kajman Vice-Chairman 30 March 2016 Muslim Brotherhood
Ahmed Maiteeq[19] Vice-Chairman 30 March 2016 15 March 2021 Misrata and GNA
Ali Faraj Qatrani Vice-Chairman 30 March 2016 8 April 2019[20] Eastern Libya / LNA
Omar Al-Aswad Minister 30 March 2016 Zintan and Western Libya
Ahmad Hamza Al-Mahdi Minister 30 March 2016
Mohammed Ammari Minister 30 March 2016 GNC

See also

References
  1. "As Libya marks 64th independence anniversary, UN envoy urges unity behind new Government". United Nations. December 24, 2015. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  2. "Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2259 (2015), Security Council Welcomes Signing of Libyan Political Agreement on New Government for Strife-Torn Country". United Nations. December 23, 2015. Archived from the original on January 30, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  3. "A Quick Guide to Libya's Main Players". European Council on Foreign Relations. 19 May 2016. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  4. "Libyan officials reject UN-proposed unity deal with rival government". The Guardian. Benghazi. Associated Press. 19 October 2015. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  5. UN Security Council Resolution 2259 of 23 December 2015
  6. Kingsley, Patrick (17 December 2015). "Libyan politicians sign UN peace deal to unify rival governments". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015.
  7. Zaptia, Sami (1 January 2016). "Ageela Salah now supports UN-brokered Skhirat agreement: Kobler". Libya Herald. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016.
  8. "Libyan deal on course, but who is on board?". Al Arabiya. 25 December 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  9. "Support grows for Libya's new unity government". AFP. April 1, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  10. "Libya's Tripoli Government Says Will 'Cease Operations'". ABC News. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on April 6, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  11. "Tripoli authorities cede power to Libyan unity government: statement". Yahoo! New Zealand. April 5, 2016. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  12. Ayyab, Saber (March 31, 2016). "Rebel Tripoli administration vanishes". Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  13. "Libya lawmakers approve interim govt in key step towards elections".
  14. "UN proposes unity government to end Libya conflict". Al Jazeera. October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  15. Article 1.3 of the Libyan Political Agreement. 2015.
  16. "Libia: Eletto a Ginevra il nuovo governo con al Manfi presidente e Dbeibeh premier".
  17. "Presidential Council to Be". Archived from the original on 2019-05-19. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  18. Musa, Rami (2 January 2017). Libyan presidential council resigns, citing failure Archived 2019-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. AP.
  19. "Libya: Ahmed Maiteeq Hails Algeria's 'Support' to Political Dialogue in Libya". All Africa. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2016-04-01.
  20. "Sarraj Deputy Quits, Voices Support for Libyan National Army". Asharq AL-awsat. Archived from the original on 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2019-04-08.
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