Abdul Hamid DBEIBAH the newly appointed Interim Prime Minister,
Photo’s source: www.libyanexpress.com
On March 15, 2021, Abdul Hamid DBEIBAH and the rest of his cabinet were sworn in to lead the country’s transition to elections in December, when legislative elections are scheduled according to the UN-sponsored Political Dialogue Forum for Libya (PDLF).
DBEIBAH is a businessman from the city of Misrata, that was appointed last month to lead the executive branch of an interim government, which also includes a three-member Presidential Council, chaired by Mohammad Younes MENFI, a Libyan diplomat from the country’s east.
The Cabinet includes 33 ministers and two deputy prime ministers who he said are representative of Libya’s different geographic areas and social segments.
Libya descended into chaos after Muammar GADDAFI was toppled and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, resulting in rival administrations vying for power.
DBEIBAH said after the vote: “This will be the government of all Libyans”. “Libya is one and united.”
This administration is expected to replace the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), based in Tripoli, and a parallel cabinet with its headquarters in the east, under the de facto control of forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa HAFTAR.
Turkey has backed the GNA, while HAFTAR’s administration has drawn on support from the UAE, Egypt, France, and Russia.
Fayez al-SARRAJ, outgoing GNA head said he is “fully ready to hand over” power, while HAFTAR last month offered “the support of the armed forces for the peace process”.
DBEIBAH is also known to be supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood and is close to Turkey.
He has a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Toronto, and his expertise introduced him to GADDAFI’s inner circle and led him to head a company managing huge construction projects.
During GADDAFI’s rule, his family was one of the many beneficiaries of an industrial and economic boom in Misrata.
This article was edited using the data from the Aljazeera.com, Trtworld.com, Middle-east-online.com, France24.com and Atalayar.com.
