Iranian model being repeated in Libya: Dabaiba launches ‘Revolutionary Guard’

Mostafa Mohamed

In an attempt to extend influence, the outgoing head of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel Hamid Dabaiba, issued a decision to establish an apparatus called the “Stability Support Apparatus” that would protect the legitimacy of the state and sovereign institutions and maintain the security and stability of the country, while observers confirmed that this decision is nothing but a process of rotating the militias and establishing an apparatus to protect them in order to remain in power.

Dabaiba’s apparatus

Resolution No. 313 of 2023 stipulates that the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA) is concerned with preserving the goals of February 17 in accordance with the legal legislation in force in the Libyan state, in addition to supporting the army as necessary to help secure and protect the Libyan borders and ports and secure vital and strategic targets and facilities.

The apparatus is also concerned with supporting the Ministry of Interior when needed in protecting sovereign headquarters and headquarters of diplomatic missions, providing support in cases of emergencies and natural disasters, rescue operations, and support in securing infrastructure projects and archaeological and tourist sites.

According to the decision, the apparatus will have branches affiliated with it in Libyan cities, according to a proposal presented by the head of the apparatus, and a decision by the prime minister is issued in this regard. Dabaiba also issued Resolution No. 243 of 2023 naming Ahmed Ali Khalil Issa as head of the SSA.

Functions of the apparatus

Among the matters that fall within the purviews of Dabaiba’s apparatus are support in cases of emergencies, natural disasters and rescue operations, and in securing infrastructure projects and archaeological and tourist sites, in addition to any specializations assigned to it later.

Among the assignments and tasks of its leadership, Article 6 stipulates that the SSA shall be managed by “a head whose designation shall be issued by a decision of the Prime Minister,” and “the apparatus shall have branches affiliated with it in Libyan cities according to a proposal presented by the head of the apparatus, and a decision shall be issued in this regard by the Prime Minister.” Article 7 of the decision stipulates that “the head of the apparatus is responsible for carrying out tasks in accordance with the authority of the apparatus,” and he is also responsible before the law for what contradicts the functions of the apparatus in accordance with the legal legislation.

As for the SSA’s financial resources, they consist of two main sources: sums of money allocated to it in the state’s general budget, and any other resources that it is legally authorized to obtain, according to what was stated in Article 8, and the apparatus has one or more bank accounts in one of the banks operating in Libya. In which its money is deposited in accordance with the legislation in force, provided that the decision is implemented from the date of its issuance.

Rotation of militias

Mohammed Bushagma, a researcher of Libyan affairs, confirmed in exclusive statements to the Reference that Dabaiba’s decision to establish SSA is nothing but a rotation of the militias and the creation of an apparatus to protect him to stay in power, and a translation of the pressures exerted by the Libyan Fighting Group and Brotherhood mufti Sadiq al-Ghariani to form the National Guard for 11 years, which had failed but today succeeds through the gate of the Dabaiba family so that there will be a body parallel to the regular armed forces.

Bushagma explained that, after reviewing the decision and the powers granted in it to this body, it seems that we are following the same scenario as the Revolutionary Guard in Iran, because the intentions are not sound in the western Libya between the House of Representatives and the state, so the agreement is bombarded by adding articles that open the door to controversy and encourage those who seek to thwart the agreement to obstruct it reflects that it was still sound, so the signature was postponed today due to an increase in the number of seats in the new parliament.