On the one hand, Abdelhamid Dbeibah, recognized by the international community but whose mission expired last December. On the other, Fathi Bahchagha, appointed by Parliament in March 2022.
In order to reduce tension between the various forces and militias in western Libya divided between the two Prime Ministers in place, President Mohamad El-Menfi ordered all military units not to leave their bases without his agreement. This decision also follows the interview, Thursday, between President Mohamad el-Menfi, the supreme head of the armed forces, and Mohamad al-Haddad, the head of the army.
In a letter sent to the Presidential Council, Abdelhamid Dbeibah indicates his intention to create a parallel military command center bringing together different security militias in western Libya. A device which will be, according to his letter, placed under his direction since he kept the portfolio of the Minister of Defense.
According to him, the aim is to dislodge groups sympathetic to the government of Fathi Bachagha holding the oil terminals, thus preventing exports. But according to several observers, Dbeibah is trying to provide the necessary support to fight against his opponent Bachagha.
Mohamad al-Haddad, the head of the army in western Libya, has insisted in recent days that he refuses to bring the army into the power struggle. He called for not politicizing state institutions. Without naming Prime Minister Dbeibah, he claimed that ” the army will not make any war to serve the interests of certain people “.
Earlier in the week, reports reported that Prime Minister Dbeibah had removed Mohamad al-Haddad from office to replace him with a relative, but the government spokesman quickly denied his information.