The head of Libya’s High Council of State, Khaled Al-Mishri, announced that the council no longer recognizes the legitimacy of the Government of National Unity, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbaiba.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Al-Mishri pointed to the resignation of half of the cabinet ministers as a critical turning point that strips the government of its political standing.
He stated that political tradition calls for a prime minister to resign if even two ministers step down. “Now that half of the government has walked away, the question is no longer about legitimacy. It’s about responsibility,” Al-Mishri said. He called on Dbaiba to respect the shifting political reality and step aside to allow for the formation of a unified national government.
Al-Mishri confirmed that the High Council of State has reached an understanding with the House of Representatives to resolve the ongoing division in Libya’s executive authority. Both bodies, he said, agree on the urgent need to form a single, inclusive government that can guide the country toward elections and long-term stability.
Addressing the growing protest movement, Al-Mishri said the demonstrators are demanding what Libyans have waited years for: a single government and national elections. He affirmed that the legislative groundwork for holding those elections has already been completed and warned against any efforts to suppress the peaceful movement.
He voiced strong opposition to any attempts to intimidate or silence protest leaders and said the people have every right to continue demonstrating peacefully until their demands are fulfilled.
Al-Mishri also blamed the Dbaiba administration for the public outrage, citing its failure to handle security issues, which has led to widespread instability. He described the protests as a legitimate response to mismanagement and urged respect for the right to peaceful assembly as an essential part of democratic life.
