High Council of State (Libya)

{{Short description|Libyan advisory body formed in 2015}} {{Infobox legislature |name = High Council of State |native_name = المجلس الأعلى للدولة |native_name_lang = ar |transcription_name = |legislature = |coa_pic = 150px |coa_res = |coa_alt = |foundation = {{start date|2016|04|05|df=yes}} |house_type = |body = |houses = |leader1_type = Chairman |leader1 = Mohammed Takala |party1 = |election1 = |leader2_type = First Deputy Chairman |leader2 = Massoud Abid |party2 = |election2 = |leader3_type = Second Deputy Chairman |leader3 = Omar Obaide |party3 = |election3 = |members = 145 |house1 = |house2 = |structure1 = 250px |structure1_res = |structure2 = |structure2_res = |political_groups1 = {{Color box|#56ACE3|border=darkgray}} Members of the GNC appointed after 2014 (134)<br> {{Color box|#154218|border=darkgray}} Members of the GNC elected in 2012 (11) |political_groups2 = |committees1 = |committees2 = |joint_committees = |voting_system1 = |voting_system2 = |last_election1 = |last_election2 = |session_room = Mehari Radisson Blu Hotel Tripoli Libya.JPG |session_res = |session_alt = |meeting_place = Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel<br>Tripoli, Libya |website = |footnotes = |preceded_by=General National Congress}}

The '''High Council of State''' ({{langx|ar|المجلس الأعلى للدولة}}, ''al majlis al'aelaa lildawla'') is an advisory body for Libya formed under the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement which was signed on 17 December 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/12/518972-libya-marks-64th-independence-anniversary-un-envoy-urges-unity-behind-new|title=As Libya marks 64th independence anniversary, UN envoy urges unity behind new Government|date=24 December 2015|website=UN News|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> The agreement resulted from United Nations supported peace talks and has been unanimously endorsed by the Security Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12185.doc.htm |title=Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2259 (2015), Security Council Welcomes Signing of Libyan Political Agreement on New Government for Strife-Torn Country | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases |access-date=2016-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130034711/http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12185.doc.htm |archive-date=2016-01-30 }}</ref> The High Council of State is able to advise the interim Government of National Unity (GNA, previously, the Government of National Accord) and the House of Representatives (HoR), currently based in Tobruk, and can express a binding opinion on these bodies under certain circumstances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2015/12/25/Libyan-deal-on-course-but-who-is-on-board-.html|title=Libyan deal on course, but who is on board?|website=english.alarabiya.net|date=25 December 2015|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> The members of the council were nominated by remaining members of the General National Congress who in 2014 were not elected to the HoR.

==History== The council met for the first time on 27 February 2016 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/politics/op-ed-state-council-of-libyan-government-of-national-accord-meets/article/458782|title=Op-Ed: State Council of Libyan Government of National Accord meets|date=27 February 2016|website=www.digitaljournal.com|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> and it was formally established at a ceremony at the Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel in Tripoli on 5 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2016/04/05/gnc-members-announce-its-dissolution-and-creation-of-the-state-council/|work=Libya Herald|title=GNC members announce its "dissolution" and creation of the State Council|access-date=2016-04-05|date=2016-04-05}}</ref>

The council moved into the headquarters of the former General National Congress, at the Rixos Al Nasr Convention Centre, on 22 April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libyanexpress.com/state-supreme-council-takes-over-the-gnc-headquarters/|title=State Supreme Council takes over the GNC headquarters|date=22 April 2016|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>

On 31 August 2016, a 94-member rival High Council of State was proclaimed in Benghazi and its members wanted to join the official body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-sweihli-sends-three-high-council-state-members-investigation|title=Al-Sweihli sends three High Council of State members to investigation - The Libya Observer|date=22 July 2017|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=17 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917054749/http://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/al-sweihli-sends-three-high-council-state-members-investigation|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 21 September 2016, the High Council of State took legislative powers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/state-council-assume-legislative-power-condemns-takeover-oil-ports|title=State Council to assume legislative power, condemns takeover of oil ports - The Libya Observer|website=www.libyaobserver.ly|date=22 July 2017 |access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref>

On 10 October 2016, the Rixos Al Nasr Convention Centre was attacked by gunmen loyal to the GNC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libyanexpress.com/high-council-of-state-evacuated-over-rift-with-its-security-guards/|title=High Council of State evacuated over rift with its security guards - Libyan Express|date=10 October 2016}}</ref> On 15 October 2016, forces loyal to the GNC took over the building and announced the return of the Ghawil cabinet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/gnc-retakes-parliament-compound-high-council-state-condemns|title=GNC retakes parliament compound, High Council of State condemns - The Libya Observer|website=www.libyaobserver.ly|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trtworld.com/mea/rival-group-seizes-libyas-un-backed-government-offices-207539|title=Rival group seizes Libya's UN-backed government offices|access-date=2016-10-16|archive-date=2016-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022054456/http://www.trtworld.com/mea/rival-group-seizes-libyas-un-backed-government-offices-207539|url-status=dead}}</ref> Then, fighting occurred between Sarraj loyalists and Ghawil forces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/245898/World/Region/Clashes-erupt-in-Libyan-capital-Tripoli.aspx|title=Clashes erupt in Libyan capital Tripoli - Region - World - Ahram Online|website=english.ahram.org.eg|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161016175054/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-concerned-about-use-of-force-in-libyas-capital/2016/10/16/a26658c4-9386-11e6-9cae-2a3574e296a6_story.html The Washington Post]</ref> Following these clashes, the council once again took up residence in the Radisson Blu Al Mahary Hotel.

==Chairman of the High Council==

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Incumbent ! Since ! Until ! Party |- |Abdulrahman Sewehli |6 April 2016 |8 April 2018 | Union for Homeland |- |Khalid al-Mishri |8 April 2018 |6 August 2023 |Justice and Construction Party |- |Mohammed Takala |6 August 2023 | | Independent |}

Saleh al-Makhzoum<ref name="Libyan Express">{{cite news|url=http://www.libyanexpress.com/state-supreme-council-elects-al-sweihli-as-president/|work=Libyan Express|title=State Supreme Council elects Al-Sweihli as President|access-date=2016-04-06|date=2016-04-06}}</ref><ref name="al-Makhzoum/army">{{cite news|url=http://www.libyanexpress.com/al-makhzoum-pc-will-announce-leadership-of-libyan-army-soon/|work=Libyan Express|title=Al-Makhzoum: PC will announce leadership of Libyan army soon|access-date=2016-04-06|date=2016-04-06}}</ref> served as the first deputy chairman and Muhammed Imazzeb<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.libyanexpress.com/al-sweihli-calls-on-tobruk-parliament-to-speed-up-implementation-of-skhirat-agreement/|title=Al-Sweihli calls on Tobruk Parliament to speed up implementation of Skhirat agreement|date=7 April 2016|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> served as second deputy chairman under Sewehli. They were replaced by Naji Mukhtar and Fawzi Aqab, respectively, during the tenure of al-Mishri.<ref name="observer">{{cite web|url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/khalid-al-mishri-elected-replace-al-swahili-head-libya-high-council-state|title=Khalid Al-Mishri elected to replace Al-Swahili as Head of Libya High Council of State|date=8 April 2018|website=Libya Observer|access-date=21 April 2019}}</ref>

In August 2023, Mohammed Takala replaced al-Mishri.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Libya's High State Council elects new leader as political gridlock deepens |date=6 August 2023 |publisher=Al Jazeera |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/6/libyas-high-state-council-elects-new-leader-as-political-gridlock-deepens }}</ref>

==References==

==External links== *[https://hcs.gov.ly/ High Council of State] *[https://www.facebook.com/TheHighCouncilOfLibya/ High Council of State - Official Facebook feed] (Arabic) *[https://www.facebook.com/The-High-Council-of-State-Libya-1133510183366974/?fref=ts High Council of State - Official Facebook feed] (English)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Libya}} Category:Government of Libya Category:Politics of Libya Category:Political organizations based in Libya Category:Tobruk