The Libyan House of Representatives has confirmed that Major General Hussein Al-Ayb will continue to serve as the head of the country's intelligence agency. This decision comes despite recent moves by the Presidential Council to replace him. According to the House of Representatives, the decisions made by the Presidential Council are null and void due to a lack of consensus and failure to follow proper procedures.
In a letter addressed to Al-Ayb, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aguila Saleh, stated that the decisions made by the Presidential Council, numbered 8, 9, and 10 of 2026, have no legal effect. Saleh emphasized that these decisions were made unilaterally, without obtaining the required consensus as stipulated in the Libyan Political Agreement.
Saleh's letter cited Law No. 8 of 2023, which stipulates that any decision to dismiss or appoint a new head of the intelligence agency requires the approval of at least 120 members of the House of Representatives. The Speaker argued that the Presidential Council's decisions did not meet this legal requirement.
The House of Representatives' decision is supported by several court rulings, including those from the Court of Appeals, Primary Courts, and the Constitutional Court. These rulings have suspended the implementation of the contested decisions and annulled their effects.
In light of the confirmation of Al-Ayb's position, Saleh instructed him to continue overseeing all departments, branches, and units of the intelligence agency. The Speaker also directed Al-Ayb to protect the agency's premises, documents, and assets from any attempts to seize or dispose of them unlawfully.
Furthermore, Saleh called on the intelligence agency to maintain coordination with Libyan institutions and international partners, within the limits of its legal mandate. The agency is also required to provide regular reports on its activities and any developments that may impact its operations.
The ongoing dispute over the appointment and dismissal of the intelligence chief reflects a deeper divide among Libya's institutions regarding the proper procedures and authorities involved in such decisions. The situation remains complex, with different parties adhering to their respective legal and political references.
Key points
- The Libyan House of Representatives has reaffirmed Major General Hussein Al-Ayb's position as head of the country's intelligence agency.
- The Presidential Council's decisions to replace Al-Ayb have been deemed null and void due to a lack of consensus and failure to follow proper procedures.
- The dispute over the intelligence chief's position reflects a broader divide among Libya's institutions regarding the proper procedures and authorities involved in such decisions.
