Aldabaiba hails recent security operations, vows to end militias – warns against illegal eastern parallel spending leading to inflation and LD devaluation
Speaking at yesterday's 2nd Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2025 held at Tripoli's Al-Nasser Woods Complex (formerly Rixos Complex), Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, said that the recent security operations (clashes with the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) militia and Abdelraouf Kara's Special Deterrence Force (SDF) / RADA, and their allies), were successful.
He blamed the subsequent disorder, fear and damage caused by these clashes and counter-clashes on the militias.
Aldabaiba also called on the Attorney General, the Audit Bureau, and the Administrative Control Authority to investigate the over LD 100 billion of parallel spending by the eastern Libyan administration.
This parallel spending, he warned will increase inflation, cost of living and reduce the foreign exchange value of the Libyan dinar. It will lead to the economic ruin of Libya, he warned.
Security initiative
Aldabaiba hailed the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence for their role in imposing security on behalf of the legitimate state. He stressed that the people support state security and not unaccountable militias and that he had received wide international support for the recent anti-militia security operation.
On the other hand, he criticised, domestically and internationally, those who supported these militias – implying Hafter and the eastern Libyan administration – militias that engage in illegal activity including illegal detention and imprisonment.
Demobilisation of militias, Interior Ministry and Presidency Council forces
Speaking at the prompting of his PM on planned security reforms, Acting Interior Minister Imad Trabelsi bemoaned the fact that militias were better armed and stronger (and actually more battle experienced due to their fighting in the February 2011 revolution) than the official Interior Ministry forces.
He said there can be no state without security and proposed (to applause from the PM and cabinet members) the demobilization of militias and some Interior Ministry and Presidency Council forces. The plan to demobilise even some Interior Ministry forces implies, and simultaneous confirms, if needed, that some Interior Ministry forces were infiltrated and controlled by militias.
He called on all current members of these forces intended for demobilisation to join the Interior Ministry or the Defence Ministry if they wished to continue their careers in the security forces. Interjecting, the PM also vowed to demobilise any security forces under his Office.
Continuing, Trabelsi said how can Interior Ministry forces operate and respond to government calls for help and intervention if there are forces operating in the field that are stronger. Trabelsi said how can he be held responsible and accountable if there are other stronger forces operating in the field.
Interjecting during Trabelsi's speech again, Aldabaiba stressed that this is the state's project that will be implemented. He warned militias hiding behind tribes and cities, saying that time was over.
The Libyan people want a strong state
Aldabaiba said the Libyan people want a strong state. He said militias must not be feared and that there is no going back (to a state dominated by militias). There is no other option, he stressed, we must impose the state on them.
Militia coercion of Ministers
Aldabaiba pointed to various ministers (which the cameras refrained from showing), implying that they were coerced to make decisions by militias. ''No more coercion of Ministers or Ministries like the coercion of the Minister of Health (who is currently under arrest) into importing medicine from a non-medicine origination country (Iraq)''
Aldabaiba revealed that militias even interfered in the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. He vowed to refer them to investigation after the pilgrimage is over.
He warned his attentive Ministers that there will be no more excuses for them and their officials for giving into militia coercion. Those who cannot perform their jobs (due to militia coercion) should resign, he stated. We will no longer keep quiet on militia coercion, he vowed. We will pursue those who do not give in the state, he explained.
Resuming his speech, Interior Minister Trabelsi said his ministry was following up on all crimes from 2012, whether criminal or financial, and referring them to the Attorney General's Office. To which Aldabaiba added ''we will not protect any Minister or his employees against the law''.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Mystery as authorities find mass grave with dozens of bodies in bags
Investigators in Mexico made a grisly discovery this year, finding dozens of bodies at a construction site in Mexico. Yesterday, prosecutors said they have identified at least 17 of the 34 bodies found in Zapopan, in Jalisco, Mexico, after remains were found buried in a mass grave. 169 bags were filled with human remains and found by builders in February, prompting a forensic investigation. It's the second time this year Jalisco has been in the spotlight. In March, a group looking for missing people found human remains and clothing items in a ranch used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Known as the 'Rancho Izaguirre' case, 15 people have been arrested, including the mayor of a nearby town. Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans have been listed as 'disappeared' by the government in the past 20 years, as families desperately search for answers. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of missing people on the Interior Ministry's national registry, which dates back to 1964, rose from about 73,000 people to more than 100,000, with most of them being men. The majority were between 15 and 30 years old, from lower-income families, the National Search Commission (CNB) reported last year. Police, the military, and cartel groups are believed to be behind many of the incidents. Earlier this year, nine students who went on holiday in southern Mexico in February were found with their hands severed, left in a deserted car. The bodies were found in San Jose Miahuatlan, roughly 175 miles from Mexico City, and were feared to be yet another cartel killing. More Trending The nine students had reportedly travelled from Tlaxcala to Oaxaca for holidays when they were targeted – but other local news outlets have claimed they were members of 'Los Zacapoaxtlas', another gang. As of May 2024, cartels controlled about one-third of Mexico's territory, with the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels responsible for the vast majority of drug trafficking in the United States, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. There are worries that violence could increase further. According to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, lethal clashes between gangs have increased 18% since 2023. In 2014, 43 students from a Rural Teacher's College were kidnapped in a famous case – there is no indication that the students are alive. Only three of the students' remains have been found. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Sister makes desperate plea for twin who went missing at food bank MORE: Ten killed and several injured after shooting at religious festival in Mexico MORE: Two arrested after 'hardworking peacemaker' stabbed to death outside prayer centre
Libya Herald
a day ago
- Libya Herald
Libyan Russian Economic Forum starts in St. Petersburg
The Libyan Russian Economic Forum was launched in St Petersburg, Russia, yesterday, the Benghazi based Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation reports. The forum, expected to continue for a week, included the participation of an official delegation representing the eastern Libyan authorities, along with several representatives of eastern based ministries and economic institutions, and a group of businessmen and investors from the two countries. The Benghazi based Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the forum aims to enhance economic and trade cooperation between (eastern) Libya and Russia, and open wide horizons for establishing strategic partnerships in vital sectors including industry, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and maritime transport. The programme of the forum includes specialised working sessions, bilateral meetings between representatives of the public and private sectors, in addition to presentations of Libyan investment projects to Russian partners. The forum will also witness the signing of memorandums of understanding and preliminary understandings in several areas of common interest. It will be recalled that in February this year the forum was held in Benghazi. . Second edition of the Libyan Russian Economic Forum to be held in Moscow and St. Petersburg from 18 to 22 May MoU signed at Libyan Russian Economic Forum in Benghazi Libyan Russian Forum to be held in Benghazi on 22 February Libyan and Russian ministries of health sign cooperation agreement in development, training and experience exchange Union of Libyan Chambers of Commerce and the Russian Chambers sign agreement Reopening of Russian consulate discussed with Benghazi based Libyan government Aldabaiba receives new Russian ambassador to Libya Aganin – embassy to reopen in August ( Libyan Railroads and Russian Railways discuss activating stalled Sirte-Benghazi rail project Minister of Oil and Gas Aoun discusses with Russian Ambassador Aganin activation of Libyan-Russian Ministerial Committee
Libya Herald
2 days ago
- Libya Herald
Aldabaiba and Menfi stress use of polling feedback to establish consensus basis for constitutional process: report and analysis
The President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Menfi, and the Tripoli based Libyan Prime Minister, Abd Alhamid Aldabaiba, held what the Tripoli government referred to as an ''expanded meeting'' in Tripoli yesterday that dealt with ''several political, security and financial files of national priority''. Implementing security arrangements, consolidating the rule of law During the meeting, the Tripoli government reported, the two sides stressed the importance of implementing security arrangements, supporting the Tripoli Security Directorate, ending all manifestations of detention outside the judiciary, and subjecting all prisons to full jurisdiction in coordination with the Attorney General, as a basis for consolidating the rule of law and guaranteeing rights. Reorganise the competencies of security, military and justice institutions It was also agreed to reorganise the competencies of security, military and justice institutions, in a way that ensures that there are no conflicts in powers and competencies in accordance with the basic organisational structure, and in a way that supports the Ministries of Interior and Defence in performing their tasks in a safe and organized environment. Support of UNSMIL to enhance comprehensive national consensus The two sides renewed their support for the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and stressed the importance of continuing coordination with it in the political and security tracks, to enhance the chances of comprehensive national consensus. To confront public spending that violate financial law and political agreement On the financial side, the two parties stressed the need to take joint measures to confront public spending that violate the financial law and the provisions of the political agreement, stressing the need for a unified budget, and for public funds to be subject to control mechanisms, prior planning, review and disclosure after contracts, in order to ensure respect for the people's right to knowledge and accountability. Popular referendum to establish popular consensus for constitutional path The two sides also reviewed the latest developments in activating the High Commission for Referendum and National Inquiry (political public opinion polling), and stressed the importance of conducting a broad, impartial and transparent popular referendum as soon as possible to establish any constitutional path based on a real popular consensus. Analysis and comment The desire by the Presidency Council to use political opinion polls / referendums is a new, proactive development. Historically, the Presidency Council has been seen as a dormant body. However, its ousting of the former Central Bank of Libya Governor, Sadek El-Kaber changed that perception. The removal of El-Kaber The legality of the initial removal of El-Kaber was questionable. According to the 2015 Libyan Political Agreement (LPA), and its subsequent alterations, the Presidency Council is a non-legislative body. Legislation is supposed to be enacted by the House of Representatives (HoR) – in consultation with the High State Council. The appointment of a CBL Governor, the head of the Audit Bureau and the Administrative Control Authority are the concern of the legislature and not the executive. It will be recalled that the Presidential Council had announced on 18 August 2024 that it had taken a unanimous decision to elect a new Governor of the CBL and form a new Board of Directors. This it claimed, came within the HoR Resolution No. 3/2018. This is the 2018 HoR law which had removed El-Kaber as CBL Governor – but the eastern based HoR was never able to enforce this removal in Tripoli. The Presidency Council appointment of a new CBL Governor was initially rejected by both Libya's recognised legislative bodies, the HoR and High State Council (HSC). However, on 26 September 2024 UNSMIL announced that the HoR and the HSC had agreed on the consensual appointment of the new Central Bank of Libya (CBL) Governor, his Deputy and the Board of Directors. The removal of El-Kaber set a precedent? This in effect set a precedent for the Presidency Council and Aldabaiba. Aldabaiba and Menfi feel they are constrained in their effectiveness by Libya's political quagmire set in stone by the 2015 LPA. Aldabaiba feels he needs a popular mandate to implement reform – especially controversial reform such as security reforms to confront militias. Several militias have ingratiated themselves in their city or region by projecting themselves as the local protector against other militias or even government security forces. The local and social support of militias This localisation of security (local militias) dates from the 2011 February Revolution that ousted the Qaddafi regime. Towns, cities and regions were left to fend for themselves for resistance to the forces of the Qaddafi regime or to militias of other towns, cities and regions, as well as ought right criminals. The militias use tribalism and regionalism to protect themselves from the high national aim of creating a unified national police and army controlled by the central government of the day. Aldabaiba emboldened by removal of El-Kaber? Emboldened by the removal of former CBL Governor El-Kaber without the legislation of the HoR or HSC, at the Third Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2024 held on 28 October in Tripoli – the first Cabinet meeting since El-Kaber's removal – Aldabaiba said: ''Changing the CBL's administration (the Governor and the board of directors) was inevitable, the first step in a series of deep reforms aimed at ending the absurdity and revitalising the Libyan economy. With this decision, I have irrevocably turned the page on individualism, temperament and political blackmail using the most important financial position in the country. The time of individualism and non-institutionalism has become a part of the past''. More pertinently to the relevance of using opinion polls to obtain a mandate for action, Aldabaiba further said ''We will not accept the extension of the current political bodies (parliament, the House of Representatives and the High State Council) and will not remain idle in front of the group that obstructs the elections. Going to direct elections that renew the legitimacy of all legislative and executive bodies is a red line for us''. He went on to say ''There are millions paid, weapons shipped, (foreign) media and intelligence tools working day and night, and receivables bought the aim of which is to undermine Libya's stability and hit its economy''. Use of opinion polls as a mandate It is Aldabaiba's refusal to allow the forces of the political status quo in Libya (the HoR, HSC and militias) to keep Libya in its current political quagmire that is behind the desire to use political opinion polls / referendums as quasi-elections to provide a mandate for action: We 'will not remain idle in front of the group that obstructs the elections'. As far as Aldabaiba is concerned, the HoR and HSC are only interested in maintaining the status quo. They wish to remain in power for as long as possible by delaying elections. This includes the move by the HoR to pass (using a minority of members) an election law that guarantees HoR Speaker Ageela Saleh and Hafter retain their posts if they are to lose in an election race. Aldabaiba hopes to wave the results of opinion polls at his opponents, be they the international community, the HoR, the HSC, militias and parts of the public. He hopes to use these popular mandates to implement strong, effective government, economic and security reforms. He wishes to use these opinion polls to by-pass and go over the head of the HoR and HSC – and indeed the 2015 LPA that installed them. Will the ploy succeed again? It remains to be seen if the opinion poll/referendum ploy will succeed. There is no doubt that a large segment of the Libyan public is tired of the political impasse that the country finds itself in. This political impasse is having a constraining effect on successive governments' ability to implement real reform and on the general public's standard of living. Can a poll / referendum be conducted across Libya? But while the Tripoli government may be able to conduct an opinion poll in western Libya, it is unclear if the eastern regime will allow such a poll to take place. If the polling is only conducted in the west of Libya, can this be considered a nation-wide mandate or just a regional mandate? And if it is only regional, is this adding to or taking away from the unification of Libya? Western Libya to go it alone? On the other hand, has Aldabaiba effectively given up on the international community, UNSMIL, the 2015 LPA and a united Libya and decided that western Libya must go it alone. Has he decided that it is no longer possible to expect Saleh and Hafter to allow elections to take place – ever? Tripoli will have to also convince the international community. Whilst they were able to get away with ousting CBL Governor El-Kaber, it is unclear if the unilateral move can be repeated in other scenarios. It was clear that El-Kaber had lost his credibility, and the international community were happy to see him removed. They may hold a different view on other political moves planned by the Tripoli administration based purely on opinion polls or referenda. Weak executives unable to reform The political split between western and eastern Libya with the internationally recognised government based in Tripoli and the HoR and its (internationally unrecognised) government based in Benghazi has meant that all these bodies are weak. This weakness has meant that no government has been able to implement the deep reform needed to launch the Libyan economy. It will be recalled that Libya is a centralised, socialist, rentier state highly dependent on its oil revenues. It is still operating the Qaddafi system it inherited in 2011. This Qaddafi system means the economy is highly centralised and dominated by the state – at the expense of the private sector. State-sector employment With high unemployment and higher still youth unemployment, the government must create at least 100,000 jobs every year. But the private sector economy is suppressed by the centralised, rentier system and is unable to create such a high number of new jobs annually. This forces the government into appointing thousands of youth to state-sector jobs – jobs that don't exist and that the country does not need. This has sent the state-sector jobs bill in the state budget skyrocketing to unsustainable numbers – at the expense of the creation of value-added jobs in the private sector. Opportunity costs The money used on the state-sector jobs budget is needed elsewhere and could and should be invested in other productive sectors instead. It should be used to train university leavers and finance SMEs instead. It should be used to improve health, education, and infrastructure. Reforming the banking system Another area that needs reform to kickstart the private sector is the banking sector. Libya's banking sector is also a legacy of the Qaddafi era. The legislative environment prevents banks from offering loans and finance to business as the laws do not guarantee the banks' ability to seek redress in the courts and confiscate property or assets in lieu of unpaid loans. Militias Finally, a state must have a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Foreign companies, foreign airliners and embassies are reluctant to come and invest in Libya as long as there are strong, unaccountable militias in the country. Aldabaiba understands this and this is (one of) the reason he has recently had confrontations with militias. A political mandate to face-off militias gained through a strong popular opinion poll or referendum is one way to face-off militias.
