Aguila Saleh Issa

Aguila Saleh Issa Gueider^[1] (Arabic: عقيلة صالح عيسى اقويدر; born January 11, 1944^[2]) is a Libyan jurist and politician who is the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives since 2014. He therefore served as the head of state of Libya from 2014 to 2021 under the Tobruk-based second Cabinet of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Theni, which, from its formation in 2014 to the formation of the Tripoli-based Cabinet of Fayez al-Sarraj in 2016, was recognized by the international community as the legitimate government of Libya during the second Libyan civil war. He is also a representative of the town of Al Qubbah, in the east of the country.^[3][4][5]

Aguila Saleh Issa
عقيلة صالح عيسى
Saleh in 2024
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Libya
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 August 2014
Preceded by	Abu Bakr Baira (acting)
Head of State of Libya
As Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office 5 August 2014 – 15 March 2021*
Prime Minister	Abdullah al-Theni
Preceded by	Abu Bakr Baira (acting)
Succeeded by	Fayez al-Sarraj (As Chairman of the Presidential Council under the Government of National Accord, internationally recognized) Mohamed al-Menfi (As Chairman of the Presidential Council under the Government of National Unity)
Personal details
Born	(1944-01-11) 11 January 1944 (age 81) Al Qubbah, Libya
Political party	Independent
Signature
*Issa's position as head of state was disputed by Nouri Abusahmain from 5 August 2014 to 30 March 2016, then by Fayez al-Sarraj from 30 March 2016 to 15 March 2021.

Biography

Aguila Saleh Issa was born on 11 January 1944, in the town of Al Qubbah, Libya.

Following the 2014 Libyan parliamentary election, Aguila Saleh Issa was elected as Parliament Speaker but was forced to flee to Tobruk along with the rest of the Libyan House of Representatives after Tripoli was seized by militias.^[6]

On 20 February 2015, Aguila Saleh Issa's residence was the target of bombing by ISIL militants in the town of Al Qubbah. In what became known as Al Qubbah bombings, bombs also targeted a petrol station and a police station. It was one of the deadliest attacks in Libya since the end of the 2011 Civil War, resulting in a total of at least 40 people killed, although it was not clear how many died in the attack on his residence. ISIL said that the attacks were carried out in retaliation for the 2015 Egyptian military intervention in Libya.^[7]

On 20 September 2021, Aguila Saleh Issa announced his intention to temporarily withdraw from parliament in order to run as a candidate for president in the 2021 Libyan general election.^[8]