The Supreme Council of State in Libya announced that it had assigned its presidential office to take urgent measures and follow-ups, in accordance with legal and regulatory competencies, to respond to the Chairman of the Administrative Control Authority, Abdullah Qadirbuh, honoring former officials from the regime of the late President Muammar Gaddafi.
In a new indication of the depth of the divisions over the transitional justice file in the country, the Council stressed, following a consultative session on Sunday evening, headed by Muhammad Takala, in the capital, Tripoli, that “celebrating names linked to incidents and violations that are still present in the national memory hurts the feelings of the victims and their families.”
This assignment means, according to observers, that the Council decided to move the crisis from mere political condemnation to the actual legal and supervisory path in an effort to isolate Qadirbuh, relying on its sovereign and legislative powers to review and monitor the work and appointments of the major regulatory agencies in the country.
This move came after the Council’s warnings that celebrating names linked to incidents and transgressions in national memory “threatens social peace and the fragile consensus between the Libyan parties.”
Qadirbouh had honored Hoda bin Amer, one of the most prominent female figures during the era of the late President Muammar Gaddafi, whose name was linked in Libyan memory to “famous incidents and field executions in the eighties of the last century.” However, the Supreme Council of State considered, on the other hand, that “celebrating a figure carrying this controversial legacy is a blatant provocation of the feelings of the victims and their families, and a challenge to the national reconciliation efforts that the country is trying to establish.”
So far, there has been no official comment from Qadirbuh or the Administrative Control Authority to respond to the criticism of the Supreme Council, or to clarify the controversial honor.
The Mufti of Western Libya, Al-Sadiq Al-Gharyani, entered into this crisis by publicly calling on the Supreme Council of State to take a decisive decision to relieve Qadirbuh from his position, and “questioned the credibility of the recent reports issued by the Authority regarding spending worth one trillion Libyan dinars” (the dollar is equal to 6.35 dinars in the official market, and 8.33 dinars in the parallel market), stressing that this huge amount does not even include the expenses of the Libya Reconstruction Fund.
Local media pointed out that the escalation of controversy over the possibility of removing Qadirbuh from his position coincides with the approaching end of his second and final term as head of the authority, amid increasing questions and indications about his imminent departure.
Qaderbuh officially assumed his duties as head of the Administrative Oversight Authority in July 2023, succeeding Suleiman Al-Shanti, pursuant to a previous assignment decision issued by the House of Representatives and a judicial ruling from the Tripoli Court of Appeal, which places the current moves to end his term in the context of an extended struggle over the management of this influential sovereign position.
75 members of the Supreme Council of State had called for an emergency session to be held on Sunday to discuss what they considered “abuses” by Qadirbuh and his “exploitation of his position,” but internal disputes prevented the quorum required to hold the session officially.
As part of an Egyptian move to revitalize strategic communication channels with the United States, talks took place in Cairo on Monday, between Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty and Ibrahim Hamadeh, a member of the Military Services Committee in the US House of Representatives, which dealt with “supporting the partnership and enhancing security cooperation.”
Abdel Ati expressed his country's aspiration to continue strengthening cooperation with Congress in a way that contributes to achieving the common interests of the two countries. He also reviewed the role played by Egypt in “supporting security and stability in the Middle East region,” pointing to “the efforts it is making to contain the current escalation, reduce tension, support the American-Iranian negotiating path, and advance diplomatic solutions.”
While Hamadeh indicated his appreciation for the strategic partnership that brings together the two countries, pointing out his “keenness to support joint cooperation frameworks and continue coordination between the two countries regarding various issues of common interest.”
Common interests
Former Assistant Foreign Minister and member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Rakha Ahmed Hassan, believes that the frequent official meetings and contacts between Cairo and Washington “reduce the areas of disagreement and clarify the picture, because Egypt is a regional power with respect, and the United States seeks to learn about its position, so the interests are common.”
He added to Asharq Al-Awsat: “Realistically, the United States has a very large role in the region, especially in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and it is the only international party that can influence Israel and other parties that support or oppose Tel Aviv.”
During his meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last January, US President Donald Trump expressed his appreciation for the extended partnership between the two countries in various political, military and economic fields, and praised the role played by El-Sisi in achieving development and political and security stability in Egypt, as well as in supporting regional peace and stability.
Hassan said: “There is cooperation in many projects between Egypt and the United States, whether educational, cultural or technological, and the talks of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Military Services Committee in Congress confirm the military aspect within the framework of what actually exists of cooperation between the two countries, even if viewpoints differ on some issues.”
According to a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Tamim Khallaf on Monday, the meeting discussed ways to support the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, and enhance cooperation in the political, economic, and security fields. It also touched on a number of other regional issues, most notably developments in the Palestinian issue.
During the talks, Abdel Ati reviewed the determinants of the Egyptian position regarding developments in Gaza and the West Bank, highlighting the efforts made by Egypt to support regional stability.
Economic support
Regarding cooperation between Egypt and the United States during the coming period, especially with the repercussions of the Iranian war, Hassan said: “President Trump, during his first term when President Sisi visited him in Washington, expressed his admiration for the Egyptian people’s tolerance of the economic program and the some living difficulties it included, and he promised then that he would help economically; However, all that was implemented was to support Egypt’s demands in international financial organizations, and we have not witnessed huge American projects during the recent period except for some simple projects in energy and gas.”
He continued: “On the other hand, Russia made an unprecedented offer for the Dabaa power plant project, which it will fully finance until production, in addition to the Russian economic zone.”
Russia is implementing a number of major projects in Egypt, including the “Dabaa Nuclear Plant,” in the north of the country, to produce electrical energy with a capacity of 4,800 megawatts, in addition to the Russian economic zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which the two countries signed an agreement to establish in 2018 with investments amounting to $4.6 billion.
Last March, the Egyptian Foreign Minister stressed, during a phone call with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio, “the importance of providing economic support and providing cash liquidity to contain the negative repercussions of the current escalation in the region,” and pointed at the time to “the impact of energy and food prices and the decline in revenues from tourism and the Suez Canal.”
While Algeria remained silent regarding the visit of the French Minister of Justice, Gerald Darmanin, which took place a week ago, Paris revealed the behind-the-scenes of the meetings. The discussions topped off hot files related to the exchange of wanted persons, between political opponents pursued by Algeria, and corruption suspects with assets in France who were officials during the rule of the late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1999-2019).
In press statements reported by the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche yesterday, Sunday, Darmanin spoke about the judicial cooperation being established between the two countries. In exchange for obtaining information about drug smuggling, the Algerian authorities submitted two requests: the extradition of Algerian dissidents, and what is known as “the recovery of stolen funds.”
The French minister said that he had conveyed to the Algerian authorities a list of French-Algerian drug smugglers wanted by French justice, especially alleged members of the “DZ Mafia” network, whose members are active in southern France. It is believed that leaders from the network have taken refuge in Algeria because they are from it, to escape prosecution by the French security apparatus.
Exciting backstage
The minister stressed that he "hopes to obtain more extraditions," while France has only received one extradition in fifteen years, according to his statements. However, the minister states that Algeria “never extradites its nationals.”
During his travel to Algeria, the French minister tried to relaunch judicial cooperation weakened by two years of diplomatic tensions between Paris and Algeria, which erupted in the summer of 2024 following the “Elysee” recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
His discussions with Algerian Minister of Justice Lotfi Boudjemaa included extradition operations, refugee political opponents in France, in addition to the sensitive file of “stolen money,” which is real estate and deposits believed to have been smuggled into France by symbols of the former regime.
In his press statements, the French Minister defended the strategy of “strict and demanding dialogue” with Algeria. Pointing out that he “at the same time rejects naivety” and “complete rupture,” praising “the strategic importance of Algeria for France, whether in energy or security issues.”
One of the main files discussed related to drug smugglers and criminals wanted between the two countries. Gerald Darmanin confirms that he provided the Algerian authorities with the names of drug traffickers wanted by French courts, especially alleged members of groups that include security personnel in France, especially in the city of Marseille, where a large Algerian community of second and third generations of immigrants resides.
The Algerian authorities raise their own issues in cooperation with Paris. It urgently demands the return or extradition of some political opponents settled in France; Among them are journalist Hisham Abboud and YouTuber Amir Boukhras, known as “Amir Dzad.” They are many people who have taken France as a refuge and continue to be active and express their opinions, which disturbs the Algerian authorities who deal with Paris as “a country that provides a safe haven for conspirators against the unity and stability of Algeria.”
Their extradition request is considered sensitive for Paris, since many of them benefit from political refugee status protected by the United Nations. However, Gerald Darmanin warns that “they must respect the rules of our republic,” according to his statements to the Journal du Dimanche.
Rigor test
Darmanan's visit addressed another major issue, which is the "stolen funds" linked to the circle of the late President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1999-2019). Algeria confirmed that it had sent France approximately 130 judicial requests to recover assets suspected of stemming from corruption and deposited on French soil. Here we recall the luxurious apartments of the former Secretary-General of the National Liberation Front, Ammar Sadani, the former Minister of the Environment, Sherif Rahmani, the former Minister of Industry, Abdel Salam Bouchouareb, and the former Commander of the Gendarmerie, General Ghali Belqsair, among others whose names were mentioned in the press and some investigations. If for Saadani and Rahmani there is no known prosecution, the case of Bouchouareb is different. The important minister during the Bouteflika era is subject to an international arrest warrant and heavy prison sentences that were issued in absentia. Last year, a French court refused to extradite him, claiming that “there were no conditions for a fair trial in Algeria” regarding his case.
Minister Darmanin stresses the “independence of French justice” in this file. He explains that he took the National Financial Prosecutor with him to Algeria, “in order to deepen technical exchanges with Algerian judges and consolidate files that would lead to judicial decisions.” Gerald Darmanin did not address the “kidnapping file of the Emir of Bukhras,” in which two Algerian consulate employees are being pursued by the French judiciary, with one of them arrested in 2025, while the other is subject to an international arrest warrant.
Darmanin says in this regard: “I am neither naive nor delusional, but I have a will,” considering that this cooperation is very necessary “for the security of the French” despite the ongoing disputes between the two countries.
