Libya's House of Representatives Ousts Speaker Aguila Saleh After 12 Years, Elects Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi

Libya's eastern-based House of Representatives elected Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi as speaker on October 6, 2026, ending Aguila Saleh's 12-year tenure amid growing discontent among lawmakers, Al Jazeera and Vanguard reported. The vote followed approval by 98 members of the 170-member House of a new system limiting the speaker and deputy speakers to a single 12-month term, ending an arrangement in place since 2014. Lawmaker Jebree Oheida told Reuters there was significant discontent with the previous leadership over numerous errors, including decisions made without consulting members. Saleh rejected the proceedings, saying the vote to limit the speaker's term was not official and had no legal effect, according to Libya Observer. Emadeddin Badi of Chatham House said Saleh appears to be the latest casualty of Saddam Haftar's drive to centralize decision-making in eastern Libya, as Saleh's longtime ally Khalifa Haftar appeared weakened by his sons consolidating their positions.

The ouster of Saleh, speaker since August 2014 and a central figure in diplomacy on Libya's conflict, creates uncertainty over the House's approach to ongoing reunification talks. The new 12-month term limit introduces turnover that could facilitate compromise with the Tripoli-based government or trigger instability if successive speakers compete for Haftar family favor, though whether al-Obeidi will negotiate in good faith with Tripoli remains unclear.

Sources

Al Jazeera (with AFP and Reuters), 'Libya's parliament removes Speaker Saleh after 12 years as discontent grows,' October 7, 2026, aljazeera.com Yahoo News (Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters), 'Libya's parliament removes Speaker Saleh after 12 years as discontent grows,' October 7, 2026, yahoo.com Vanguard News, 'Libya's parliament speaker ousted after 12 years,' October 6, 2026, vanguardngr.com Middle East Online, 'Libyan lawmakers replace speaker Aguila Saleh after nearly 12 years,' October 7, 2026, middle-east-online.com Libya Observer, 'Al-Saleheen Abdulnabi Al-Obeidi selected by MPs as new House speaker, replacing Aqila Saleh,' October 6, 2026, libyaobserver.ly Daily Sabah (AFP), 'Libya parliament speaker ousted after 12 years amid power shift,' October 7, 2026, dailysabah.com