Get you up to speed: Libya’s parliament removes Speaker Saleh after 12 years as discontent grows
Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has elected Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi as the new speaker, replacing Aguila Saleh after 12 years amid dissatisfaction with his leadership. The vote took place in Benghazi, where legislators approved changes limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term.
The House of Representatives also elected Tarek al-Ashtar and Mesbah Douma as the first and second deputy speakers, respectively. The recent leadership change follows a August agreement aimed at reconciling Libya’s rival political factions, potentially paving the way for elections within two years.
Following the election of Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi as the new speaker, the eastern-based House of Representatives aims to address longstanding discontent among lawmakers regarding past leadership, particularly concerning decisions made without their consultation. The developments come as Libya’s political landscape remains fragmented, with potential presidential and legislative elections planned within two years, contingent on the ongoing mediation efforts by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how Aguila Saleh’s dismissal will impact the ongoing political divide between rival administrations in Libya.
Libya’s parliament elects new speaker Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, replacing Saleh after 12 years
News|ConflictLibya’s parliament removes Speaker Saleh after 12 years as discontent grows
Eastern-based parliament votes to replace longtime speaker with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi.
Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026
Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026Libya’s eastern-based House of Representatives has elected a new speaker, ending Aguila Saleh’s 12-year tenure amid growing discontent among lawmakers over his leadership.
Legislators in the 170-member House voted on Tuesday to replace Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, the parliament’s spokesperson announced on X.
The vote came a day after 98 members of the House approved a new system limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term.
The change ended an arrangement that had been in place since the chamber’s first leadership was elected in 2014.
“There was significant discontent among MPs with the previous leadership over numerous errors,” lawmaker Jebree Oheida told the Reuters news agency. “We tried to engage with the leadership to address these issues, but to no avail. Among these errors were decisions made without consulting MPs.”
The vote was overseen by Second Deputy Speaker Misbah Douma, according to the Libya Observer.
Saleh has previously rejected the proceedings, saying the initial vote to limit the speaker’s term was “not official and had no legal effect”, according to the outlet. He had also announced that he had cancelled the session he had called for Tuesday.
The developments come as Libya remains divided politically and militarily between the United Nations-recognised government in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east backed by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Haftar’s camp relies in particular on the parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Benghazi under their control.
Saleh has long been considered a staunch ally of the Haftar clan, but analysts said he appeared to be weakened as Haftar’s sons, in particular Saddam Haftar, consolidated their positions.
“Agila Saleh appears to be the latest casualty of Saddam Haftar’s drive to centralise decision-making in eastern Libya and bulldoze his way into a political role,” said Emadeddin Badi, an analyst at the London-based Chatham House.
Al-Obeidi, who comes from the same tribe as Saleh, represents the eastern city of Tobruk and has chaired parliament’s Libyan-Turkish friendship committee.
The House on Tuesday also elected Tarek al-Ashtar and Mesbah Douma as first and second deputy speakers, respectively.
Their election follows the signing of a landmark agreement by representatives of Libya’s rival political camps in Tripoli in August that could see presidential and legislative elections held within two years.
Mediated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the “4+4 committee” agreement attempts to resolve recurring legal and institutional disputes that have crippled the nation since the overthrow of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The United States is pursuing a separate reunification plan for the oil and gas-rich North African country, led by Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs.