Presidential Council co-Chairman Musa al-Koni has shared an exclusive statement with The Geopolitical Desk, claiming that he officially registered an objection to the appointment of businessman Abdel Majid Mlegta as the head of the Libyan Intelligence Agency.
Presidential Council Chairman Mohammed al-Menfi announced on June 28th that Mlegta had been officially appointed to the role, despite there being potential violations of the Geneva Political Agreement regarding political appointments.
Mlegta's candidacy is controversial and indicative of the current political infighting within the Government of National Unity (GNU), as Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba seeks to strengthen his allies ahead of expected political change in order to secure his own position.
However, the appointment threatens to further undermine the GNU's legitimacy in Libya and heighten tensions due to Mlegta's political background and his alleged involvement in the political scandal surrounding a meeting between former Libyan Foreign Minister Najla Mangoush and her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Italy back in August 2023.
An incomplete appointment
According to the rules laid out in the Geneva Political Agreement, the head of the Intelligence Service can only be appointed by a unanimous decision of the Presidential Council, and the appointment must also be approved by the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives.
Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed Al-Menfi has claimed that the decision to appoint Mlegta was approved by the Presidential Council because no objections were raised, stating that Presidential Council co-Chairman Musa al-Koni was not present at the meeting.
