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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 March 2000 Issue No. 472 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 March 2000 Issue No. 472
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Focus Books Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Oiling 'people's power'
By Rasha Saad
In a sweeping overhaul of his government, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered the abolition of the central government and the transfer of most ministerial functions "to the [provincial] committees of popular congresses." Only six ministries -- including foreign affairs, security, justice and information -- were left in place out of the original 18.
While energy policy in the major oil-producing state will be run by the National Oil Company, the Libyan leader has not decided which governmental body will supervise this critical area of responsibility. It is anticipated that either the prime minister's office or the General People's Congress (GPC), which is Libya's top legislative and executive body, will be given this role.
Gaddafi created a new Ministry of African Unity in an institutional bid to reinforce his recent ideological shift toward Africa and away from the Arab world.
Libya also named a new premier and a new foreign minister. Mubarak Abdullah Al-Shamikh, minister of public works and housing in the outgoing government, replaced Mohamed Ahmed Al-Mangoush as prime minister. Mohamed Abdel-Rahman Chalbak, former ambassador to Germany, replaced 10-year veteran Omar Al-Montasser as foreign affairs and international co-operation minister.
The new appointments were announced in a statement issued by the GPC at the end of a four-day meeting. "We are giving the world an example of rule by the masses who can do without government," said Gaddafi, addressing the GPC.
Not completely without government, it seems. Just a day later the Libyan leader proposed reinstating the post of head of state during his speech marking the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of "peoples' power" in Libya. Under the Jamahiriya (state of the masses) system devised by Gaddafi in 1977, Libya has no president or formal head of state, and Gaddafi himself is simply known as the "Leader of the Revolution."
Gaddafi's speech also fuelled speculation over his succession. His eldest son, 29-year-old Seif Al-Islam heads the list of nominees, particularly after his father dispatched him on several diplomatic missions to Arab countries on his behalf.
With the suspension of the seven-year-old UN sanctions against Libya last year, including the ban on importing equipment for refineries, Libya is starting to rebuild its oil-revenue-dependent economy. With reserves of 30 billion barrels and production costs for its high-grade crude considered to be among the world's lowest, Libya has opened the door to more foreign investment and sweetened investment terms.
Last week's changes came shortly after Gaddafi unexpectedly attended a 28 February GPC meeting and initially rejected his parliament's budget bill for 2000. During this meeting, Gaddafi charged that the way the oil revenues are allocated "is a great treason we cannot permit," equivalent to "burning the oil." The bill was later amended and passed.
