Dbeibah blocks Western Libyan MPs from traveling to Benghazi to hinder budget approval

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A new chapter has unfolded in Libya’s ongoing political crisis, as several Members of Parliament were reportedly prevented from leaving Tripoli for Benghazi in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to obstruct a parliamentary session scheduled for Monday to review the budget bill proposed for the Government of Stability.

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This incident goes beyond a logistical mishap; it represents yet another step in a broader pattern of actions reflecting the persistent power struggle between the country’s eastern and western factions. It underscores the enduring institutional divide that continues to cast a long shadow over the Libyan political landscape, threatening to undermine any prospects for national unity or reconciliation.

This development is especially noteworthy as it echoes a previous occurrence in September 2022, when MPs were similarly barred from traveling. This repetition suggests that obstructing the legislative process has become a systematic tactic employed by rival parties to assert dominance and prevent any rapprochement that might benefit the broader national interest.

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Against this backdrop, the fate of the planned session and the proposed budget now hangs in the balance, raising broader questions about the viability of political compromise under such disruptive conditions.

The travel ban was publicly denounced by Misbah Douma, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, who declared that the Civil Aviation Authority at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli was responsible for the action.

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In his statement, Douma held the relevant authorities fully accountable, describing the move as a clear violation of the Constitutional Declaration and an infringement of the fundamental right to freedom of movement, particularly for members of the legislative authority.

He called on all relevant entities to facilitate procedures enabling MPs to perform their duties with full independence and freedom, free from interference or obstacles that could negatively affect the political and national process.

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Douma also urged the Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, to launch an immediate investigation into the incident and to hold those responsible accountable under the law.

In his statements to Al Arabiya, Member of Parliament Tarek Al-Machay declared that the cancellation of the MPs’ flight from Mitiga Airport reveals the depth of institutional dysfunction in Libya, denouncing what he described as the executive authority’s unlawful and unconstitutional control over state mechanisms.

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Al-Machay emphasized that the incident was far from a routine administrative issue, characterizing it instead as a political decision aimed at stifling the role of Parliament and preventing the people’s representatives from fulfilling their duties at a critical time.

He explained that the MPs had intended to address the consequences of recent airstrikes on western cities, in addition to discussing the proposed national budget. According to him, certain parties are actively working to prevent these issues from being opened to scrutiny or accountability.

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He warned that continued behavior of this nature by the outgoing Government of National Unity poses a direct threat to the country’s unity. Turning airports into tools of political obstruction and marginalizing Parliament, he added, sets a dangerous precedent.

This measure, which deprives MPs of their constitutional duties, sheds light on the troubling overlap between executive and legislative powers. It highlights the lack of proper institutional checks and deepens the climate of mistrust among Libyan factions.

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These developments come at a critical moment, as Parliament was expected to debate a massive 160 billion Libyan dinar budget, allocated entirely to the Government of Stability headed by Osama Hammad. The proposal raises significant questions regarding its validity and legitimacy, particularly in the absence of a unified government accepted by all sides.

The figures – with 64 billion earmarked for salaries and 54.6 billion for subsidies – reflect the magnitude of the challenges facing Libya and intensify concerns about unchecked spending and widespread corruption amid a deepening economic crisis.

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This is not an isolated incident. It echoes similar moves in September 2022, when MPs were blocked from traveling to discuss appointments to the Supreme Court and other draft laws. Today, a similar scenario plays out to prevent discussion of the budget.

This recurring pattern indicates that some parties are leveraging territorial control to suppress any political decisions that do not serve their interests—even when those decisions are critical for the country’s stability and institutional unification.

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Such events underscore the persistent obstacles facing the implementation of prior political agreements, including the Libyan Political Agreement that requires the approval of 120 MPs. Preventing parliamentarians from traveling constitutes a direct threat to the democratic process and a deliberate attempt to paralyze legislative work through coercion.

As this behavior continues, Libya’s financial and economic crisis deepens, with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt. Without a unified and supervised budget, public funds are mismanaged, corruption spreads, and the state’s ability to provide basic services is undermined. These repeated incidents send a clear message: the power struggle continues to override national interest, and the path toward political and economic stability remains long and fraught.

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Libya remains politically and institutionally divided, with two rival governments: the outgoing Government of National Unity led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, formed in 2021 through the UN-backed political dialogue; and the Government of Stability in Benghazi, led by Osama Hammad and appointed by the House of Representatives. This division has paralyzed national institutions, created competing claims to legitimacy, and obstructed efforts to unify the country and hold elections that address the needs of the Libyan people.

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