Coronavirus: Former Libya interim prime minister Mahmoud Jibril dies in Cairo
Mahmoud Jibril, the former leader of the opposition Libyan government during the civil war that toppled Muammar Gaddafi after 4o years of rule, has died in Cairo after being hospitalised with the coronavirus.
Jibril's death at a hospital in the Egyptian capital was confirmed by his party, the Alliance of National Forces, on Sunday.
The 67-year-old had been quarantined at a hospital in the city since late last month.
Jibril had been interim prime minister for about seven months in 2011 and resigned after Gaddafi was captured and killed in the city of Sirte.
In 2012, Jibril became a member of the newly founded political union of National Forces Alliance (NFA).
On 14 March 2012, he was elected leader of the alliance and represented his party in the General National Congress election. In national elections on 7 September 2012, the NFA won the most seats.
Jibril ran for a second term as prime minister, winning the first round of voting with 86 votes, far more than the 55 votes obtained by his primary opponent, Mustafa Abushagur.
However, in the second round of voting, Abushagur defeated Jibril.
Documents leaked by WikiLeaks
Jibril had once been touted as a key force in Libyan politics and a potential president, but the country remained riven by conflict after 2011.
It is now split between an internationally recognised government in Tripoli and rival forces led by the eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Jibril was supported by several international actors and had negotiated between the US and Gaddafi's government even before the Libyan uprising, according to documents leaked by WikiLeaks.
From 2007 to early 2011, he had served under Gaddafi as head of the National Planning Council of Libya and of the National Economic Development Board of Libya.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
