A significant legal and administrative dispute is intensifying between the Libyan cities of Misrata and Tawergha, following the issuance of Decree No. (671) of 2024 by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, head of the Government of National Unity (GNU). This decree annexed the municipality of Tawergha to that of Misrata, a move that sparked widespread objection from Tawergha’s residents, who view it as a direct violation of their right to manage local affairs and elect an independent municipal council.
Misrata’s Actions and Judicial Overreach
Amid the ongoing controversy, the Mayor of Misrata, Mahmoud Al-Sgoatri, subsequently issued Decree No. (6) of 2025, appointing a head for the Tawergha municipal branch. This action was taken despite an earlier urgent ruling by the Tripoli Court of Appeal that mandated a suspension of the government’s annexation decision, pending a final verdict on the lawsuit filed by Tawergha’s civil society activists and local dignitaries. Residents of Tawergha considered Al-Sgoatri’s move an infringement upon judicial authority, prompting them to seek a second court order to halt the implementation of the new municipal decree.
Separately, a meeting was held involving the Mayor of Misrata, Mahmoud Al-Sgoatri, the newly appointed head of the Tawergha branch, the head of the Tawergha Council of Elders (appointed by the former local council head, Abdulrahman Al-Shakshak), and other Tawerghan figures. During this consultation, the Tawergha delegation requested that their city remain a municipal branch under the Misrata Municipal Council, a stance presented as a means to foster joint administrative and service cooperation.
Parliamentary Calls for Adherence to Law and International Intervention
Jaballah Al-Shaibani, a House of Representatives member representing Tawergha, stressed via “Facebook” posts that judicial rulings must be respected as the sole arbitrator in municipal disputes. He asserted that the forthcoming judgment will definitively settle Tawergha’s status and affirm its demand for “full administrative independence.”
Al-Shaibani revealed that an official memorandum, which includes a copy of the stay of execution order, is being prepared for submission to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is intended to formally urge the High National Elections Commission to organize elections for a Tawergha municipal council. He also indicated that a copy of the memorandum would be forwarded to the UN Mission as a precaution against any attempts to obstruct the electoral process or prevent the enforcement of the rulings.
Criticizing what he termed a “militia-like approach” to managing certain files, Al-Shaibani stated that the ongoing situation represented a “blatant challenge to the judiciary and the culture of respect for the law,” maintaining that only legal and institutional solutions can preserve the state’s civic character and unity.
The Future of the Conflict and the Role of the Courts
The dispute between Tawergha and Misrata appears likely to escalate further. Misrata insists the government decree promotes administrative unity, while Tawergha residents remain steadfast in their demand for autonomous local representation. Caught between this political wrangling and legal controversy, the final court decision remains the crucial determinant that will set the course for the issue, either leading to de-escalation and a restoration of confidence in state institutions or ushering in a new phase of conflict over the powers and limits of municipal independence in Libya.
