Libya’s parliament has removed its speaker, Agila Saleh, from office after 12 years, in a move analysts say could signal a shift in the country’s political balance.
Members of parliament voted on Tuesday to replace Saleh with Al-Salhin Abdelnabi al-Obeidi, according to the parliament’s spokesman.
Saleh, 82, had been a prominent ally of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces and political allies control much of eastern Libya.
Libya has remained politically divided since the overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with the UN-recognised government in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah facing a rival administration in the east backed by Haftar.
The parliament, which is based in Benghazi, has been a key institution within Haftar’s political camp.
Analysts say Saleh’s removal comes amid growing influence of Haftar’s sons, particularly Saddam Haftar, and efforts to consolidate power within eastern Libya.
Emadeddin Badi, an analyst at Chatham House in London, said Saleh appeared to be the latest casualty of Saddam Haftar’s efforts to centralise decision-making in eastern Libya and expand his political role.
The development comes as a United States-backed initiative aimed at reviving Libya’s political process and unifying the country’s divided institutions continues to be discussed.
