Abdullah: Al-Kikli’s Killing Sparked the Rift Between Dbeibah and Al-Menfi, and the ‘4+4’ Deal Left the Latter Without Leverage
LIBYA – Al-Sharif Abdullah, director of the Libyan Centre for Security and Military Studies, discussed key milestones in the dispute between Government of National Unity Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and Presidential Council President Mohamed Al-Menfi before the US initiative, speaking about how their relationship evolved and Al-Menfi’s position after the ‘4+4’ agreement.
Dispute Began After Al-Kikli’s Killing
Abdullah told Asharq Al-Awsat that the dispute between Dbeibah and Al-Menfi began with the killing of Abdulghani Al-Kikli, head of the Stability Support Apparatus affiliated with the Presidential Council, in May 2025. He said Dbeibah then announced the dissolution of the apparatus, while Al-Menfi kept it in place and appointed a new head — a step Abdullah said exposed the fracture in relations between the two men.
Abdullah also pointed to what he described as a rapprochement between Al-Menfi and leaders of the Deterrence Apparatus after that incident, noting that the affiliation of some security bodies with the Presidential Council did not, in his assessment, give Al-Menfi real influence, because Dbeibah’s government continued to pay their salaries and remained the stronger actor.
He clarified that relations between Al-Menfi and Dbeibah were not always confrontational and had seen periods of convergence, notably their joint support for removing Al-Siddiq Al-Kabir from the Central Bank governorship.
Al-Menfi After the ‘4+4’ Agreement
Abdullah said Al-Menfi’s position after the ‘4+4’ agreement had become closer to that of someone “out of step”, arguing that he lacks the ability to compete with Saddam Haftar for the post, while Dbeibah, in Abdullahs view, continues to tighten his grip on finances — leaving Al-Menfi without leverage to influence arrangements for the next phase.
