Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
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Dbeibeh Surprises Libyans with Expanded National Unity Govt

Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)
Libyan Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh. (Reuters)

Prime Minister-designate Abdulhamid Dbeibeh surprised Libyans with his announcement of an expanded national unity government.

In remarks late on Friday, he said the cabinet will be comprised of 35 ministers.

The lineup will be presented to parliament on Monday for a vote. The legislature will meet in the central city of Sirte.

The cabinet will be formed of 27 minister who will hold portfolios and six ministers of state.

Dbeibeh vowed that the ministers will prioritize the improvement of services provided to the people, the unification of state institutions and holding elections.

The PM has until March 19 to receive the parliament’s vote of confidence before embarking on the most challenging part of his mission, which is unifying institutions and leading the transitional phase until the December 24 elections are held.

Dbeibeh has divided the cabinet into seven sovereign and 14 service portfolios and six state ministers.

The lineup confirmed a previous Asharq Al-Awsat report that said Khaled Mazen would be appointed interior minister. Government of National Accord (GNA) Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha would no longer retain his post, despite the support he had received from Washington and Ankara.

He also named Lamia Bosidera, as foreign minister.

Dbeibeh will act as defense minister, similar to his predecessor GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj.



Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
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Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)

A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed jail terms of 12 to 35 years on high-profile politicians, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former security officials, a move that critics say underscores the president's use of the judiciary to cement “authoritarian rule”.

Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against the state in the major mass trial, were Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Kais Saied, local radio Mosaique FM said. Akacha who fled abroad received 35 years.

Ghannouchi, 84, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, was handed a 14-year term.

Ghannouchi who was the speaker of the elected parliament dissolved by Saied, has been in prison since 2023, receiving three sentences of a total of 27 years in separate cases in recent months.

A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country.

The court sentenced former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani to 35 years, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem to 35 years, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of Rached Ghannouchi, to 35 years. All three have fled the country.

Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, then dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move that opposition called a coup which undermined the nascent democracy that sparked in 2011 the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings.

Saied rejects the accusations and says his steps are legal and aim to end years of chaos and corruption hidden within the political elite.

Most opposition leaders, some journalists, and critics of Saied have been imprisoned since he seized control of most powers in 2021.

This year, a court handed jail terms of 5 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring as well, a case the opposition says is fabricated in an attempt to stamp out opposition to the president.