Port deal exposes Libya’s political divide
The recent agreement to expand the Misrata Port has exposed the underlying institutional divide in Libya after being rejected by the country’s eastern-based authorities.
Libya’s parliament has moved to block the Misrata Free Zone development deal, deepening the country’s political rifts and raising fresh questions over the authority of the interim Government of National Unity (GNU), as reported by the Libya Review on January 22nd.
The House of Representatives (HoR) has formally rejected an agreement signed by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah with Qatar and Italy to expand and modernise the port facilities at the Misrata Free Zone, arguing that the government overstepped its mandate and put national sovereignty at risk.
The formal rejection of the agreement by the HoR is consistent with the parliament’s recent condemnation of other deals concluded by the GNU. It was reported on January 19th, that the HoR strongly denounced resource agreements reached by the GNU, claiming that the Tripoli government was trying to finalise long-term agreements impacting Libya’s sovereign oil and gas riches without national consent and the required authorization.
Lawmakers have said that the GNU no longer holds constitutional or legal authority to sign long-term strategic agreements, particularly in sectors that are closely tied to national security and economic independence. They cautioned that such commitments could restrict future elected governments and expose Libya to extended legal and political disputes.
The backlash reflects more than a dispute over infrastructure, it has exposed the deeper political crisis that has plagued Libya since the NATO-backed toppling of Muammar Gaddafi. Political analyst Khaled Mohamed Al-Hijazi notes that unresolved questions around authority and decision-making continue to haunt the country’s political process. He said many Libyans view the Misrata port agreement as an attempt to create a political and economic fait accompli by locking a strategic national asset into deals made by an interim administration.
Al-Hijazi also pointed to the broader significance of Misrata Port, which holds both economic and political weight due to the city’s influence and its role as a key support base for the ex-Misrata mayor, Prime Minister Dbeibah. Critics argue the agreement risks entrenching the power of the GNU while further widening regional and national divisions.
Libya Review, Maghrebi.org
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