Fathi Bashagha | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bashagha in 2022 | |
| Prime Minister of theGovernment of National Stability | |
| In office 3 March 2022 – 16 May 2023 Disputed byAbdul Hamid Dbeibeh | |
| Preceded by | Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh(Government of National Unity) |
| Succeeded by | Osama Hammad (acting) |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office 7 October 2018 – 15 March 2021 Suspended: 28 August 2020 – 3 September 2020 | |
| President | Fayez al-Sarraj |
| Preceded by | Abdussalam Ashour |
| Succeeded by | Khalid Mazen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1962-08-20)20 August 1962 (age 63) |
| Alma mater | Air College,Misrata |
| Signature |  |
| Website | fathibashagha |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Libyan Arab Jamahiriya |
| Branch/service |  Libyan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1984–1993 |
| Rank |  Second Lieutenant |
| Commands | Air College,Misrata |
| *Bashagha's premiership was disputed byAbdul Hamid Dbeibeh.[1] | |
Fathi Ali Abdul Salam Bashagha (Arabic:فتحي علي عبد السلام باشآغا; born 20 August 1962), known simply as "Fathi Bashagha" or occasionallyFathi Ali Pasha, is a Libyan politician and the former interimprime minister of the rivalGovernment of National Stability.[2] He served asMinister of Interior from 2018 to 2021.
On 10 February 2022, Bashagha was selected asprime minister-designate by the eastern-basedLibyan House of Representatives. However,GNU Prime MinisterAbdul Hamid Dbeibeh rejected Bashagha's appointment as prime minister, stating that he will only hand over power after anational election.[3]Khalifa Haftar and hisLibyan National Army welcomed Bashagha's appointment.[4]
On 16 May 2023, the Libyan eastern-based parliament suspended Bashagha and assigned his duties to the finance ministerOsama Hammad.[5]
Bashagha was born on 20 August 1962,[6] in the city of Misrata,Kingdom of Libya.[7]
Bashagha was a member of theBoy Scouts of Libya.[8]
Bashagha graduated from the Misrata aviation college in 1984 and spent a decade working as a trainer pilot specializing in fighter jets. He remained at the aviation college until he resigned from theLibyan Air Force in 1993 and started working in the import-export trade.
He is ofKouloughli-Turkish descent.[9]
After the2011 Libyan revolution, the Judicial Committee was formed. The Judicial Committee summoned serving and resigned officers to form a military committee, theMilitary Council in Misrata, of which Bashagha was named a member.[10]
Bashagha has since 2013 been involved in theLibya Dawn Operations of 2013–14, and the2019–20 Western Libya campaign "Volcano of Anger" counteroffensive operation against theLNAOperation Flood of Dignity.
In 2011, he joined the Military Council as Head of the Information and Coordinates Department, then as spokesperson for theMisrata Military Council. He joined the advisory committee at the National Reconciliation Commission. He served as a member of the controversial Misrata Shura Council in 2012, and is considered a supporter of and involved in theLibya Dawn operations. In 2013, he ran for the post of Minister of Defence.[11]
Bashagha was elected to the House of Representatives for the city of Misrata in 2014. He decided to boycott the House of Representatives along with a group of deputies from Misrata. He was nominated in 2015 to head the Defence and National Security Council of the Al-Wefaq government and apologized for not accepting the position. In 2016, he participated in the Parliament's Political Dialogue Committee. In October 2018, theGNA government decided to assign him the duties of Minister of Interior. On 28 August 2020, Bashagha was suspended as Interior Ministeramid protests inTripoli.[12] He was restored to his position on 3 September 2020.[13]
Bashagha is described by journalist Fehim Tastekin as "wield[ing] influence over the Mahjoub and Halbous brigades in Misrata", being the[Muslim] Brotherhood's man" in the GNA and having "strong bonds" with the government ofTurkey.[14] Sami Zaptia, writing in theLibya Herald in September 2020, saw Bashagha's role in the GNA as being as strong as, or perhaps stronger than, that of prime ministerFayez al-Sarraj.[15]
On 16 December 2019, Bashagha was injured after being shot at in an assassination attempt by unknown gunmen.[16] On 21 February 2021, Bashagha survived an ambush by gunmen on his motorcade in Tripoli, in which one of his guards was wounded and the others chased the assailants, killing one of them and arresting two others.[17]
In theLibyan Political Dialogue Forum procedure for choosing a unified executive authority ahead of the24 December 2021 Libyan general election,Mohamed al-Menfi ran on a joint ticket withAbdul Hamid al-Dabaib as prime minister andMusa al-Koni and Abdallah al-Lafi as members of the Presidential Council. Their list obtained 39 votes, five more than that of {head of state according to the secularist eastern government)Aguila Saleh Issa and Fathi Bashagha.[18] The Aguila Saleh–Bashagha list was perceived to be favoured by theUnited States of America. The US ambassador denied any attempt to influence the electoral process.[19]
On 10 February 2022, theHouse of Representatives selected Fathi Bashagha asprime minister-designate, after HoR SpeakerAguila Saleh announced that the only other candidate, Khalid Al-Baybas, withdrew his candidacy.[3] However, Al-Baybas has denied withdrawing from the race.[20] Prime Minister of theGovernment of National UnityAbdul Hamid Dbeibeh rejected Bashagha's appointment as prime minister, stating that he will only hand power after a national election.[3]Khalifa Haftar and hisLibya National Army welcomed Bashagha's appointment.[4]
On 1 March, the House of Representatives voted to give confidence to Bashagha'sGovernment of National Stability (GNS).[21][22] According to HoR Speaker Saleh, 92 out of 101 attending members voted for the new government.[21] TheHigh Council of State rejected "unilateral" steps by the HoR and regards the HoR decision to grant confidence to a new government a violation of the Libyan Political Agreement.[23] TheUnited Nations has voiced concerns over the vote due to reports on lack of transparency and procedure, and acts of intimidation prior to the HoR session.[24]
Bashagha and his cabinet were sworn in at the headquarters of the House of Representatives inTobruk on 3 March.[1][25]
| Kingdom of Libya (1951–1969) |  .svg) .svg) .svg) | ||||
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| Libya under Gaddafi (1969–2011) |
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| Transitional period (2011–present) | |||||
Italics indicate acting officeholder | |||||