Jalal al-Digheily
Encyclopedia
Jalal Muhammad Mansur al-Digheily, sometimes transliterated al-Dogheily, is a Libya
n politician who served as the Defence Minister of Libya under the National Transitional Council
during the 2011 Libyan civil war
. Digheily succeeded Omar El-Hariri
no later than 19 May 2011 after the latter was relieved over ongoing tensions with General Abdul Fatah Younis
, then the National Liberation Army chief. Though El-Hariri held the title of Minister of Military Affairs, virtually all sources have referred to Digheily as the Defence Minister of the National Transitional Council. He was fired along with 14 other members of the 16-person Executive Board on 8 August 2011, but was reappointed in early October 2011 after continuing in the role of interim defence minister for almost two months. When Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib
announced his cabinet on 22 November 2011, Digheily was excluded in favor of Zintan Brigade commander Osama al-Juwali
.
, Digheily is a civilian, not a military man. The Jamestown Foundation
reported that he holds a doctorate
.
, Jalal al-Digheily was reportedly a member of the Executive Board of the National Transitional Council.
Digheily met with the chief of staff of the Qatar Armed Forces on 5 July in Doha
.
On 20 July, Digheily visited Nalut
in western Libya's Nafusa Mountains. He heralded the alliance forged between Arabs and Amazigh
in the region, expressed confidence in Amazigh fighters' ability to defend the nearby Wazzin border crossing with Tunisia
, and confirmed that the NTC was working with NATO commanders to pinpoint targets loyal to the Libyan Jamahiriya Government, led by Muammar Gaddafi
, whom the NTC was trying to oust, on the western front. He was accompanied by a Qatari representative on his trip to Nalut, a journalist with The Jamestown Foundation
reported.
Digheily was in Egypt
when Younis, his top military commander, was assassinated outside Benghazi
on 28 July. He chose to continue his business in Egypt rather than return to Libya immediately, drawing criticism and sparking calls for his resignation from some quarters. The members of the Executive Board, including Digheily, were dismissed en masse on 8 August 2011, and de facto Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril
was asked to form a new board.
Digheily's replacement was set to be Salem Joha, a Misratan commander favored by Islamist factions, but Mustafa Abdul Jalil
interceded and said Digheily would retain his position instead. Al Jazeera
claimed that Digheily is also regarded well by Libyan Islamists, with whom liberal
politicians like Jibril and Jalil have occasionally clashed during the transitional period.
On 22 November 2011, Osama al-Juwali
of the Zintan Brigade was announced as Digheily's official successor. Juwali was named after a successful raid by his troops succeeded in capturing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, one of the leading figures of the old regime who remained at large for a month after the formal conclusion of the war
.
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n politician who served as the Defence Minister of Libya under the National Transitional Council
National Transitional Council
The National Transitional Council of Libya , sometimes known as the Transitional National Council, the Interim National Council, or the Libyan National Council,...
during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. Digheily succeeded Omar El-Hariri
Omar El-Hariri
Omar Mokhtar El-Hariri was a leading figure of the National Transitional Council of Libya who formerly served as the Minister of Military Affairs. He controlled the National Liberation Army and the Free Libyan Air Force from March to May 2011...
no later than 19 May 2011 after the latter was relieved over ongoing tensions with General Abdul Fatah Younis
Abdul Fatah Younis
Abdul Fatah Younis , sometimes transliterated Fattah Younis or Fattah Younes or Fatah Younes, was a senior military officer in Libya. He held the rank of Major General and the post of Minister of Interior, but resigned on 22 February 2011 to defect to the rebel side in what was to become the 2011...
, then the National Liberation Army chief. Though El-Hariri held the title of Minister of Military Affairs, virtually all sources have referred to Digheily as the Defence Minister of the National Transitional Council. He was fired along with 14 other members of the 16-person Executive Board on 8 August 2011, but was reappointed in early October 2011 after continuing in the role of interim defence minister for almost two months. When Prime Minister Abdurrahim El-Keib
Abdurrahim El-Keib
Abdurrahim Khaled Abdulhafiz El-Keib, Ph.D., is a professor of electrical engineering, entrepreneur, and Libyan politician from the city of Sabratha...
announced his cabinet on 22 November 2011, Digheily was excluded in favor of Zintan Brigade commander Osama al-Juwali
Osama al-Juwali
Osama al-Juwali is a Libyan commander who serves as Minister of Defence in the government of Abdurrahim El-Keib, Libya's interim prime minister. He fought in the 2011 uprising against the government of Muammar Gaddafi...
.
Background
According to The EconomistThe Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
, Digheily is a civilian, not a military man. The Jamestown Foundation
The Jamestown Foundation
The Jamestown Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based institute for research and analysis, founded in 1984 as a platform to support Soviet dissidents. Today its stated mission is to "inform and educate" policy makers about events and trends, which it regards as being of current "strategic"...
reported that he holds a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
.
2011 Libyan civil war
Unlike his predecessor, Omar El-HaririOmar El-Hariri
Omar Mokhtar El-Hariri was a leading figure of the National Transitional Council of Libya who formerly served as the Minister of Military Affairs. He controlled the National Liberation Army and the Free Libyan Air Force from March to May 2011...
, Jalal al-Digheily was reportedly a member of the Executive Board of the National Transitional Council.
Digheily met with the chief of staff of the Qatar Armed Forces on 5 July in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
.
On 20 July, Digheily visited Nalut
Nalut
Nalut is the capital of the Nalut District in Libya and is home to a Berber granary and community.Nalut lies approximately half way between Tripoli and Ghadames, at the western end of the Nafusa Mountains coastal range, in the Tripolitania region.-Architecture:Nalut is home to the Ksar Nalut,...
in western Libya's Nafusa Mountains. He heralded the alliance forged between Arabs and Amazigh
Berber people
Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis, in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River. Historically they spoke the Berber language or varieties of it, which together form a branch...
in the region, expressed confidence in Amazigh fighters' ability to defend the nearby Wazzin border crossing with Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
, and confirmed that the NTC was working with NATO commanders to pinpoint targets loyal to the Libyan Jamahiriya Government, led by Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
, whom the NTC was trying to oust, on the western front. He was accompanied by a Qatari representative on his trip to Nalut, a journalist with The Jamestown Foundation
The Jamestown Foundation
The Jamestown Foundation is a Washington, D.C.-based institute for research and analysis, founded in 1984 as a platform to support Soviet dissidents. Today its stated mission is to "inform and educate" policy makers about events and trends, which it regards as being of current "strategic"...
reported.
Digheily was in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
when Younis, his top military commander, was assassinated outside Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
on 28 July. He chose to continue his business in Egypt rather than return to Libya immediately, drawing criticism and sparking calls for his resignation from some quarters. The members of the Executive Board, including Digheily, were dismissed en masse on 8 August 2011, and de facto Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril
Mahmoud Jibril
Mahmoud Jibril el-Warfally , also transcribed Jabril or Jebril or Gebril, is a Libyan politician who served as the interim Prime Minister of Libya for seven and a half months during the 2011 Libyan civil war, chairing the executive board of the National Transitional Council from 5 March 2011 to 23...
was asked to form a new board.
Digheily's replacement was set to be Salem Joha, a Misratan commander favored by Islamist factions, but Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Mustafa Abdul Jalil
Mustafa Abdul Jalil or Abdul-Jalil is the Chairman of the National Transitional Council of Libya, and as such serves as head of state in Libya's caretaker government which was formed as a result of the 2011 Libyan civil war. He is also a spokesman for the city of Bayda...
interceded and said Digheily would retain his position instead. Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera is an independent broadcaster owned by the state of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and headquartered in Doha, Qatar...
claimed that Digheily is also regarded well by Libyan Islamists, with whom liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
politicians like Jibril and Jalil have occasionally clashed during the transitional period.
On 22 November 2011, Osama al-Juwali
Osama al-Juwali
Osama al-Juwali is a Libyan commander who serves as Minister of Defence in the government of Abdurrahim El-Keib, Libya's interim prime minister. He fought in the 2011 uprising against the government of Muammar Gaddafi...
of the Zintan Brigade was announced as Digheily's official successor. Juwali was named after a successful raid by his troops succeeded in capturing Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, one of the leading figures of the old regime who remained at large for a month after the formal conclusion of the war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
.