Libya’s Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, has launched a scathing attack on Parliament Speaker Ageela Saleh, accusing him of playing a central role in the country’s political and economic deterioration.
During a cabinet meeting in Tripoli on Tuesday, Dbaiba criticised Saleh for approving off-budget spending without proper oversight. He warned that such practices threaten Libya’s financial stability and could lead to the collapse of the state. “These actions are destroying the foundations of Libya,” Dbaiba said, directly addressing Saleh, Deputy Central Bank Governor Marai Rahil Al-Barassi, and Reconstruction Fund Head Belqassim Haftar.
The Prime Minister’s remarks follow the latest report from the Central Bank of Libya, which highlighted the sharp rise in dual government expenditures by both the GNU in Tripoli and the parallel government of Osama Hammad in Benghazi throughout 2024.
Dbaiba defended his government’s 2024 spending, which totalled LYD 123 billion, stating that funds were allocated across all state institutions, including the armed forces in both eastern and western Libya, as well as the House of Representatives and the High Council of State.
In contrast, he called on the Attorney General to investigate LYD 59 billion spent through parallel financial mechanisms lacking official approval. He described the sum as “equivalent to the annual salary of every Libyan,” demanding full transparency and accountability.
Observers see the deepening rift between Libya’s executive and legislative authorities as a significant obstacle to institutional unification. The ongoing conflict continues to delay consensus on a constitutional basis that would enable long-awaited national elections.
