Libya replaces parliamentary speaker Aguila Saleh after 12 years

Libya's eastern-based parliament has dismissed its long-serving speaker, Aguila Saleh, after 12 years, amid internal tensions within the House of Representatives. His replacement, Al Salhin Abdulnabi, hails from the same tribe as Mr. Saleh and represents the eastern city of Tobruk. In a speech upon assuming the role, Abdulnabi emphasized unity, stating "Libya is greater than our differences..."

The move came a day after 98 out of 190 MPs approved restricting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term, ending a system that had been in place since Saleh's election in 2014. Saleh rejected the session, calling it "not official" and lacking legal effect. A Benghazi-based politician likened the outcome to "the magic backfiring on the magician," referencing Saleh's accumulated power and enduring presence in Libyan politics.

Saleh, one of the most prominent figures since the 2011 uprising, had close ties to the Haftar family, which dominates eastern Libya. His son, Lt Gen Saddam Haftar, is widely seen as his likely successor. Haftar, the military commander of the eastern region, expressed optimism about Libya's path towards a stable and unified state after the new speaker's election.

However, Libya remains deeply divided, with two de facto seats of power in the east and west. In August, rival factions signed an agreement for presidential and parliamentary elections within 24 months, but optimism remains muted due to the history of failed unification attempts.