On Thursday, the former Defence Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Al-Mahdi Al-Barghathi, called on Prime Minister Fayez Al-Sarraj to reinstate him as Defence Minister. He claimed his dismissal in 2018 was illegal and contrary to Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) reached in 2015.
In a recorded video, Al-Barghathi said that his reinstatement claim is based on the Tripoli-based Court of Appeal’s ruling No. 33 of 2020. This was issued on 5 October in order to revoke Prime Minister Al-Sarraj’s decision No. 118 of 2018.
In July 2018, the PM dismissed Al-Barghathi from his position, against the backdrop of the attack carried out by forces of the Ministry of Defence on Brak Al-Shati Airbase. This resulted in the death of a significant number of troops at that time. He stated that Al-Sarraj’s decision was based on illegal procedures, alleging that he wasn’t responsible for the attack.
He explained that on 1 November the Presidential Council was notified of the judicial ruling. Accordingly, the PM’s decision and its implications have become null and void, with no legal basis.
Al-Barghathi described the ruling as a victory for the rule of law, and reiterated that his dismissal was contrary to the LPA signed in Skhirat, Morocco. He called on the PM to abide by the provisions of the law.