Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah has announced a cabinet reshuffle, stating the changes are intended to enhance governmental efficiency and performance. The restructuring affects approximately 10 of the 27 ministerial positions, though Dbeibah will retain the critical portfolios of defence and foreign affairs.
This administrative overhaul aims to address long-standing regional divisions within the administration. The distribution of power between Libya’s western, southern, and eastern regions has previously strained Dbeibah’s relations with key figures, including Mohamed el-Menfi, Libya’s presidential council representative for the three regions, and Mohamed Takala, head of the High State Council. Both Menfi and Takala attended the first cabinet meeting of the year following the reshuffle, suggesting a tentative reconciliation.
According to a statement on the government’s official Hakomitna website, the objective is not reform for its own sake but to “accelerate the delivery of services to citizens.” Dbeibah echoed this on social media, emphasizing the practical goal of improving state performance.
The reshuffle occurs within a deeply fractured political landscape. Since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been unable to achieve stable, unified governance. The country remains divided between the UN-recognised Government of National Unity based in Tripoli, led by Dbeibah, and a rival administration in Benghazi under the command of military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The new cabinet composition continues to reflect the nation’s gender imbalance, with only one woman, Randa Ghareb, retained as minister for women’s affairs.
This realignment represents Dbeibah’s latest attempt to consolidate his administration’s authority and functionality amid persistent geopolitical rivalries and the slow progress toward national elections. The success of the reshuffle in overcoming regional discord and delivering tangible improvements in public services will be a critical measure of its effectiveness in the months ahead.
