Major General Mahdi Al-Arabi Abdelhafiz, a retired Libyan officer, has publicly praised the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief for their attention to the affairs of military retirees. In a post on his Facebook page, Al-Arabi emphasized the need for fair treatment of those who have served for decades across different branches of the armed forces. He noted that despite retiring according to legal procedures, many have not received fair compensation.
Al-Arabi highlighted that a significant number of retirees receive pensions of no more than 900 dinars, even after many years of service. He stressed that orders from the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief to address this issue require applying relevant laws, particularly Law No. 1 of 2026. This law, issued by the House of Representatives, increases wages for active military personnel and has now entered into force.
The retired general criticized some officials for proposing pension increases based on personal discretion, rather than adhering to established laws and administrative and financial regulations. He referenced Cabinet Decision No. 441 of 2013, which outlined salary and allowance increases for army personnel, effective January 1, 2014. However, he noted that the pension fund has not implemented this decision, despite its mandatory language.
Al-Arabi cited Article 9 of Military Retirement Law No. 43 of 1974, which states that if salaries increase after retirement, pensions should be recalculated based on the new figures. He believes that pensions should now be recalculated in accordance with Law No. 1 of 2026 from the House of Representatives. This, he argues, is essential for ensuring that retirees receive fair compensation for their years of service.
According to Al-Arabi, thousands of retired military and civilian employees are currently submitting complaints and requests to have their pensions adjusted according to the new laws. He also cited Article 51 of the law’s executive regulations, which stipulates that when salaries increase post-retirement, the authority must automatically adjust pensions without requiring a request from the beneficiary.
The retired general also emphasized the importance of activating Article 4 of the executive regulations for Law No. 43 of 1974. This article calls for the establishment of a dedicated office within the armed forces to handle military retirement affairs. Al-Arabi argued that this office would simplify the process and save time for retirees, serving as a liaison with the armed forces on all retirement matters.
Al-Arabi concluded by thanking the commander-in-chief and deputy commander-in-chief for their continued attention to retirees’ concerns. He added that pension adjustments should include civilians as well, following relevant legislation. Major General Mahdi Al-Arabi previously served as head of the Training Authority in the Libyan Ministry of Defense and commandant of the Military Academy in Tripoli.
Key points
- Major General Mahdi Al-Arabi calls for implementation of existing laws to ensure fair treatment of military retirees.
- Al-Arabi criticizes officials for proposing pension increases based on personal discretion rather than established laws.
- Thousands of retired military and civilian employees are submitting complaints and requests for pension adjustments.
