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Libyan Parliament Unilaterally Ends Terms of Presidential Council, GNU

East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
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Libyan Parliament Unilaterally Ends Terms of Presidential Council, GNU

East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)
East-based parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. (Libyan parliament)

The east-based Libyan parliament unilaterally announced on Tuesday it was ending the term of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU), a move that could stoke more tensions in the struggle for power in the North African country.

Meeting in the city of Benghazi, the parliament unanimously voted to end the term of the GNU, headed by Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, declaring its rival, the Government of National Stability, headed by Osama Hammad, as the sole “legitimate” government in the country until a new “unified” cabinet is chosen.

Parliament spokesman Abdullah Bleihaq added that the legislature also unanimously voted to name Speaker Aguilah Saleh as the high commander of the army in line with the constitutional declaration.

The decision means that parliament has removed the role of high commander of the army from the Presidential Council. It also announced that it agreed to a memo presented by 50 lawmakers to reinstate the 2011 constitutional declaration.

During the parliamentary session, Saleh told MPs that the term of the interim phase, which led to the formation of the Presidential Council and GNU, is effectively over. He called for reviewing the Geneva agreement that covers the interim phase.

He explained that a government’s term should last no more than a year, which can be extended for another one-year term. This means that the GNU had lost its legitimacy over five years ago.

He criticized the GNU for failing to perform its duties and holding parliamentary and presidential elections.

The parliament is seeking to form a unified authority that can rule and achieve justice, Saleh stressed, noting that the capital Tripoli has fallen under the control of armed gangs.

“I have never sought to extend my term as speaker of parliament. I did not conspire to postpone the elections and I refuse a return to fighting and the division of Libya,” he declared.

“We have offered several concessions to reach an agreement that appeases all parties, but some sides are eager to keep the situation as it is,” he stated, describing the current stage as “critical”.

Furthermore, he said the GNU’s greatest fault was failing to hold the parliamentary and presidential elections on time even though they had popular and international support.

The Presidential Council did not immediately comment on the parliament’s moves. Sources close to the council said its president, Mohammed al-Menfi, convened an emergency meeting with his deputies to discuss the parliament’s actions.

Menfi’s aide said Saleh had several legal misconceptions in his comments, reported local media.

Khalid al-Mishri, who is vying for the position of High Council of State, described as “void” the parliament’s decisions, saying they violate the political agreement that was signed in Morocco in 2015.

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Yemen’s Humanitarian Lifeline on the Brink, IRC Warns

Aid agencies face increasing requests for assistance in the camps of displaced Yemenis (UN)
Aid agencies face increasing requests for assistance in the camps of displaced Yemenis (UN)
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Yemen’s Humanitarian Lifeline on the Brink, IRC Warns

Aid agencies face increasing requests for assistance in the camps of displaced Yemenis (UN)
Aid agencies face increasing requests for assistance in the camps of displaced Yemenis (UN)

As Yemen marks ten years of conflict and crisis ignited by the Houthis, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned that the country will face unprecedented challenges this year with expected reductions in US contributions, which accounted for more than half of total humanitarian funding to Yemen in 2024.

The Committee said the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) seeks $2.47 billion to reach 10.5 million people—but as of March 2025, it is just 5% funded.

In 2024, the response received just over half of what was required, forcing aid agencies to scale back essential support such as food distributions and limit access to clean water and other services.

Therefore, IRC warned that expected reductions in US contributions, which accounted for more than half of total humanitarian funding to Yemen in 2024, threaten to widen this gap even further, placing millions at greater risk of hunger, disease, and further displacement.

The Committee also cautioned that a widening chasm between rising humanitarian needs and the funding required to alleviate them, risks leaving millions of Yemenis without access to food, healthcare and protection services.

In 2025, it said, an estimated 19.5 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection—an increase of nearly 7% compared to 2024. Across the country, more than 83% of the population now lives in poverty.

More than 4.5 million people are now internally displaced with most displaced multiple times over the past decade. IRC teams said they are witnessing rising demand in displacement sites, where families face limited access to food, healthcare and clean water.

“These figures reflect the compounding toll of a crisis that has deepened year after year, leaving families with fewer resources, fewer services and no safe alternatives,” the Committee warned.

For families who have endured years of displacement and insecurity, humanitarian aid has been critical to survival.

“I remember the first time I heard the sounds of war. I felt a fear I had never known before. We lost our home, our livelihood, and most importantly, our sense of security. Living in this camp is a daily struggle with no privacy or safety,” said Abdulnasser Abdullah, a displaced father living in Al Qataysh camp.

He added: “But the healthcare assistance we have received has made a real difference—especially since we can’t afford basic medication or even a simple meal.”

Caroline Sekyewa, IRC’s Country Director in Yemen, said that for ten years, Yemenis have endured relentless conflict, economic collapse, and limited access to lifesaving health and nutrition services.

“Humanitarian aid has been their lifeline-preventing disease outbreaks, delivering healthcare, responding to natural disasters, and helping families to survive,” she said.

For donor governments to consider reducing or removing that support is not just short-sighted, it puts millions of lives at risk, the aid director affirmed.

“Yemen now stands on a precipice and without urgent support, we risk reversing years of hard-fought gains. Ultimately, humanitarian aid on its own cannot end the suffering being felt by millions in Yemen,” she said.

Sekyewa then revealed that last year, humanitarian organizations, in spite of a huge funding shortfall, reached more than 8 million people in need across the country.

“2025 must be a turning point in this crisis. With needs steadily increasing, we call upon all donors to step up and ensure that this year’s humanitarian needs and response plan is fully funded,” she affirmed.