A Libyan appeals court has ruled to suspend the implementation of decisions made by the Presidential Council regarding the leadership of the General Intelligence Agency. The decisions, numbered 8, 9, and 10, were issued by the Presidential Council, led by Mohamed al-Menfi, and involved the dismissal and appointment of the agency's head and deputy head.
The ruling was made by the Administrative Justice Department of the Zawiya Court of Appeals on Sunday, following a lawsuit filed by lawyer Mohamed Ali Habas. The lawsuit, registered under number 173 of 2026, challenged the decisions made by al-Menfi and the House of Representatives. This development comes after a similar ruling by the Benghazi Court of Appeals in August, which also accepted a lawsuit filed by House of Representatives head Aguila Saleh and Presidential Council member Musa al-Koni.
The decisions in question involved the dismissal of First Lieutenant General Hussein Muhammad al-Aib and the appointment of Abdelmajid Mliqta as his replacement. Al-Koni had rejected the decision, citing that it was not approved by the council. The Benghazi Court of Appeals had ruled that the decisions were issued without proper jurisdiction and were therefore null and void.
According to the law, the appointment or dismissal of the intelligence agency's head should be carried out by the House of Representatives, not the Presidential Council. The court also found that the decisions were issued with procedural irregularities and exceeded the council's authority.
The Zawiya Court of Appeals' ruling follows a similar decision by the Benghazi Court of Appeals, which also accepted a lawsuit filed by Saleh and al-Koni. The decisions have been suspended pending a final ruling on the matter.
The developments have sparked controversy over the legitimacy of the decisions made by the Presidential Council and the extent of its authority. The council's decisions have been met with resistance from various parties, including the House of Representatives and some members of the council itself.
The issue has also raised concerns about the potential impact on the country's security and stability. The General Intelligence Agency plays a crucial role in maintaining national security, and any changes to its leadership could have significant implications.
Key points
- The Libyan appeals court has suspended decisions to change the leadership of the General Intelligence Agency, citing a lack of jurisdiction and procedural irregularities.
- The decisions, made by the Presidential Council, involved the dismissal and appointment of the agency's head and deputy head.
- The ruling has sparked controversy over the legitimacy of the decisions and the extent of the council's authority.
