Fathi Bashagha

Bashagha was born on 20 August 1962,{{Cite web|url=https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200k11n|title=BBC Monitoring – Essential Media Insight|website=BBC|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424022321/https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200k11n|url-status=live}} in the city of Misrata, Kingdom of Libya.{{Cite web|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/08/libya-serraj-bashagha-tripoli-gna-hafter.html|title=Intel: Libya's Sarraj suspends interior minister, fracturing Tripoli government|date=August 31, 2020|website=Al-Monitor|access-date=2 October 2020|archive-date=1 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200901143003/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/08/libya-serraj-bashagha-tripoli-gna-hafter.html|url-status=live}}

Bashagha was a member of the Boy Scouts of Libya.{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Mary |date=2022-03-08 |title=Libyan youth dream of marriage |url=https://orientxxi.info/magazine/libyan-youth-dream-of-marriage,5420 |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Orient XXI |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116142811/https://orientxxi.info/magazine/libyan-youth-dream-of-marriage,5420 |url-status=live }}

Bashagha graduated from the Misrata aviation college in 1984 and spent a decade working as a trainer pilot specializing in fighter jets. He remained at the aviation college until he resigned from the Libyan Air Force in 1993 and started working in the import-export trade.

He is of Kouloughli-Turkish descent.{{cite web | url=https://www.iemed.org/publication/libya-a-failed-state-in-the-middle-of-the-mediterranean/ | title=Libya: A Failed State in the Middle of the Mediterranean | access-date=29 January 2023 | archive-date=4 August 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804194738/https://www.iemed.org/publication/libya-a-failed-state-in-the-middle-of-the-mediterranean/ | url-status=live }}

After the 2011 Libyan revolution, the Judicial Committee was formed. The Judicial Committee summoned serving and resigned officers to form a military committee, the Military Council in Misrata, of which Bashagha was named a member.{{cite web |url=https://www.awstsh.com/2020/04/Bashaga.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406193646/https://www.awstsh.com/2020/04/Bashaga.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-04-06 |title=فتحي باشاغا واستقالته من السلاح الجوي |website=awstsh.com |language=Arabic |date=6 April 2020 }}

Bashagha has since 2013 been involved in the Libya Dawn Operations of 2013–14, and the 2019–20 Western Libya campaign "Volcano of Anger" counteroffensive operation against the LNA Operation Flood of Dignity.

In 2011, he joined the Military Council as Head of the Information and Coordinates Department, then as spokesperson for the Misrata Military Council. He joined the advisory committee at the National Reconciliation Commission. He served as a member of the controversial Misrata Shura Council in 2012, and is considered a supporter of and involved in the Libya Dawn operations. In 2013, he ran for the post of Minister of Defence.{{Cite web |title=من هو باشاغا مرشح وزارة الداخلية بحكومة الوفاق؟ |url=https://www.afrigatenews.net/article/%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82/ |website=www.afrigatenews.net |access-date=9 November 2020 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324213734/https://www.afrigatenews.net/article/%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%88-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%BA%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AD-%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82/ |url-status=live }}

Bashagha was elected to the House of Representatives for the city of Misrata in 2014. He decided to boycott the House of Representatives along with a group of deputies from Misrata. He was nominated in 2015 to head the Defence and National Security Council of the Al-Wefaq government and apologized for not accepting the position. In 2016, he participated in the Parliament's Political Dialogue Committee. In October 2018, the GNA government decided to assign him the duties of Minister of Interior. On 28 August 2020, Bashagha was suspended as Interior Minister amid protests in Tripoli.{{Cite news |date=August 29, 2020 |title=Influential Libyan interior minister suspended amid protests |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security/influential-libyan-interior-minister-suspended-amid-protests-idUSKBN25O301/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=Reuters |archive-date=14 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914152622/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security/influential-libyan-interior-minister-suspended-amid-protests-idUSKBN25O301 |url-status=live }} He was restored to his position on 3 September 2020.{{Cite news |date=September 3, 2020 |title=Libyan interior minister restored to post after talks |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security/libyan-interior-minister-restored-to-post-after-talks-idUSKBN25U2R2/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=Reuters |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214234719/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security/libyan-interior-minister-restored-to-post-after-talks-idUSKBN25U2R2 |url-status=live }}

Bashagha is described by journalist Fehim Tastekin as "wield[ing] influence over the Mahjoub and Halbous brigades in Misrata", being the [Muslim] Brotherhood's man" in the GNA and having "strong bonds" with the government of Turkey.{{Cite web |last=Tastekin |first=Fehim |date=2019-08-23 |title=Are Libyan Turks Ankara's Trojan horse? - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/08/turkey-libya-are-libyan-turks-ankaras-trojan-horse.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=www.al-monitor.com |language=en |archive-date=13 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413134410/https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2019/08/turkey-libya-are-libyan-turks-ankaras-trojan-horse.html |url-status=live }} Sami Zaptia, writing in the Libya Herald in September 2020, saw Bashagha's role in the GNA as being as strong as, or perhaps stronger than, that of prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj.{{Cite web |last=Zaptia |first=Sami |date=2020-09-04 |title=Serraj backs down over sacking his dominant Interior Minister |url=https://libyaherald.com/2020/09/serraj-backs-down-over-sacking-his-dominant-interior-minister/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US |archive-date=1 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601082013/https://libyaherald.com/2020/09/serraj-backs-down-over-sacking-his-dominant-interior-minister/ |url-status=live }}

On 16 December 2019, Bashagha was injured after being shot at in an assassination attempt by unknown gunmen.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2019 |title=Libya's GNA Interior Minister injured in assassination attempt |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2019/12/16/Libya-s-GNA-Interior-Minister-injured-in-assassination-attempt- |website=Al Arabiya English |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-date=12 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212150322/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/north-africa/2019/12/16/Libya-s-GNA-Interior-Minister-injured-in-assassination-attempt- |url-status=live }} On 21 February 2021, Bashagha survived an ambush by gunmen on his motorcade in Tripoli, in which one of his guards was wounded and the others chased the assailants, killing one of them and arresting two others.{{cite web |date=22 February 2021 |title=Libyan interior minister survives attack on motorcade |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/spokesman-libyan-minister-survives-attack-motorcade-76030770 |website=ABC News |access-date=22 February 2021 |archive-date=21 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210221161203/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/spokesman-libyan-minister-survives-attack-motorcade-76030770 |url-status=live }}

In the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum procedure for choosing a unified executive authority ahead of the 24 December 2021 Libyan general election, Mohamed al-Menfi ran on a joint ticket with Abdul Hamid al-Dabaib as prime minister and Musa al-Koni and Abdallah al-Lafi as members of the Presidential Council. Their list obtained 39 votes, five more than that of {head of state according to the secularist eastern government) Aguila Saleh Issa and Fathi Bashagha.{{Cite web |last=Zaptia |first=Sami |date=2021-02-05 |title=BREAKING: New unified Libyan government selected by LPDF in Geneva |url=https://libyaherald.com/2021/02/breaking-new-libya-government-selected-by-lpdf-in-geneva/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321125325/https://libyaherald.com/2021/02/breaking-new-libya-government-selected-by-lpdf-in-geneva/ |url-status=live }} The Aguila Saleh–Bashagha list was perceived to be favoured by the United States of America. The US ambassador denied any attempt to influence the electoral process.{{Cite web |last=Zaptia |first=Sami |date=2021-02-04 |title=U.S denies attempting to influence LPDF process |url=https://libyaherald.com/2021/02/u-s-denies-attempting-to-influence-lpdf-process/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=LibyaHerald |language=en-US |archive-date=5 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905152113/https://libyaherald.com/2021/02/u-s-denies-attempting-to-influence-lpdf-process/ |url-status=live }}

On 10 February 2022, the House of Representatives selected Fathi Bashagha as prime minister-designate, after HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh announced that the only other candidate, Khalid Al-Baybas, withdrew his candidacy. However, Al-Baybas has denied withdrawing from the race.{{Cite news |last=Assad |first=Abdulkader |date=13 February 2022 |title=Al-Baybas denies withdrawing from PM candidacy contrary to HoR Speaker's remarks |work=Libya Observer |url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-baybas-denies-withdrawing-pm-candidacy-contrary-hor-speaker%E2%80%99s-remarks |access-date=13 February 2022 |archive-date=13 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213170147/https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-baybas-denies-withdrawing-pm-candidacy-contrary-hor-speaker%E2%80%99s-remarks |url-status=dead }} Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh rejected Bashagha's appointment as prime minister, stating that he will only hand power after a national election. Khalifa Haftar and his Libya National Army welcomed Bashagha's appointment.

On 1 March, the House of Representatives voted to give confidence to Bashagha's Government of National Stability (GNS).{{Cite news |last=Assad |first=Abdulkader |date=1 March 2022 |title=Libya's Parliament gives confidence to Bashagha's government |work=Libya Observer |url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libya%E2%80%99s-parliament-gives-confidence-bashaghas-government |access-date=1 March 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301180120/https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libya%E2%80%99s-parliament-gives-confidence-bashaghas-government |url-status=dead }}{{Cite news |last=Zaptia |first=Sami |date=2 March 2022 |title=Bashagha Government of National Stability (GNS) releases new crest |work=Libya Herald |url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2022/03/bashagha-government-of-national-stability-gns-releases-new-crest/ |access-date=4 March 2022 |archive-date=4 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304221849/https://www.libyaherald.com/2022/03/bashagha-government-of-national-stability-gns-releases-new-crest/ |url-status=live }} According to HoR Speaker Saleh, 92 out of 101 attending members voted for the new government. The High Council of State rejected "unilateral" steps by the HoR and regards the HoR decision to grant confidence to a new government a violation of the Libyan Political Agreement.{{Cite news |last=Alharathy |first=Safa |date=1 March 2022 |title=HCS: Granting confidence to a new government violates Political Agreement |work=Libya Observer |url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/hcs-granting-confidence-new-government-violates-political-agreement |access-date=2 March 2022 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302000359/https://www.libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/hcs-granting-confidence-new-government-violates-political-agreement |url-status=live }} The United Nations has voiced concerns over the vote due to reports on lack of transparency and procedure, and acts of intimidation prior to the HoR session.{{Cite news |date=3 March 2022 |title=UN voices concern over vote on new Libyan prime minister |work=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-voices-concern-over-vote-on-new-libyan-prime-minister |access-date=3 March 2022 |archive-date=3 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303084632/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/3/un-voices-concern-over-vote-on-new-libyan-prime-minister |url-status=live }}

Bashagha and his cabinet were sworn in at the headquarters of the House of Representatives in Tobruk on 3 March.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-21 |title=Bashagha's government sworn in at HoR in Tobruk {{!}} The Libya Observer |url=https://libyaobserver.ly/news/bashaghas-government-sworn-hor-tobruk |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=libyaobserver.ly |language=en |archive-date=28 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528115933/https://libyaobserver.ly/news/bashaghas-government-sworn-hor-tobruk |url-status=live }}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Prime ministers of Libya}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bashagha, Fathi}}

Category:Living people

Category:1962 births

Category:People from Misrata

Category:Libyan people of Turkish descent

Category:20th-century military personnel

Category:Prime ministers of Libya

Category:Interior ministers of Libya

Category:Libyan military personnel

Category:21st-century Libyan politicians

Category:Independent politicians in Libya

Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Libya)