User:Joe basson/sandbox

Khalifa al-Ghawil, sometimes transliterated as Khalifa al-Ghweil (Arabic: خليفة الغويل‎‎), is a Libyan politician. He was the prime minister of the new General National Congress, a key actor in the Government of National Accordformed under the terms of the Libyan Political Agreement, a United Nations-led initiative, signed on 17 December 2015.

Early Life and Education

Khalifa Al-Ghawil was born in Misrata, Libya. The oldest of 10 children, his father owned his own rock aggregate delivery business. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Benghazi in 1986.

Business life

After a mandatory 6-month military service, he began working as a civil engineer for the municipality of Misrata. In 1988, he was transferred to work at the Misrata Steel Complex and after 1 year was made the general manager of the complex.

One year after he became the General Manager, the Ghaddafi Regime imposed blockades on all imports for construction supplies. In response, Al-Ghweil engineered a foundation system which was accepted by the Government Authorities for the construction of over 100,000 homes, villas, and commercial buildings despite the blockade. This system allowed thousands of employees at the steel complex to keep their jobs.

After his father died in 1993, al-Ghweil left his job at the Misrata Steel Complex to manage the family rock aggregate business. Over the next decade, he ventured into plastics, paint, water treatment technology, and ultimately formed the GW Group Company, which also owned and operated multiple medical clinics. During this time, al-Ghweil and his family business intentionally remained independent from the Ghaddafi government.

2011 Civil War

During the 2011 Civil War, Khalifa al-Ghweil and his family fought against the Ghaddafi Regime. Several of his family members were injured, and one was killed. Following the revolution, al-Ghweil supported the elected government and helped to persuade investors to come to Misrata and invest in business opportunities.

Political Activities and Rise to Prime Minister

In October of 2014, after over three years of failed governance among the former General National Congress, a group of citizens came to al-Ghweil the day before the candidate filing deadline, pleading with him to enter his name.

A few days later, he was elected to serve as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense to Omar al-Hassi, the prime minister of the troubled Tripoli-based government.[2][3] After al-Hassi was fired as head of the GNC, Al-Ghawil was asked to serve as prime minister and certified by the Supreme Court of Libya.[2][4]

On 1 December 2015, he formed a new cabinet.

The Prime Minister, of the United Nations supported Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, arrived in Tripoli on 30 March 2016.[5] The following day, it was reported that the GNA had taken control of the prime ministerial offices and that the GNC appointed Prime Minister Khalifa al-Ghawil had fled to Misrata.

On 5 April 2016, the National Salvation Government, which had been led by Al-Ghawil, announced that it was disbanding and conceded power to the Presidential Council.[1]

On 14 October 2016, the Presidential Guard revolted in Tripoli and proclaimed allegiance to GNC, took over the building of the High Council of State and announced the comeback of Ghawil cabinet[6][7] Then, fighting occurred between Sarraj loyalists and Ghawil forces.[8][9]

On 5 November 2016, he inaugurated the Al Khums's Power Station in a city who is controlled by forces loyal to GNS.[10]

Public Service and the Fight Against Extremism

As Prime Minister, al-Ghawil publicly appealed to the US to step forward and lead a coalition of international community members to help stabilize Libya. Meanwhile, he began to renegotiate contracts with Western firms, such as GE, to right the economy.

During a campaign against corruption, he examined the Government Payroll Employee ID number system, and discovered that many employees were receiving payment up to 10 times for each ID number. By exposing and eliminating this fraud, he saved the Libyan Government more than 8 billion LYD per year.

Al-Ghawil also sent troops to fight ISIS in Sirte and, without receiving support from the Central Bank, organized funds from private citizens and his family business to pay for the operations.

In 2015, when Libyan-owned airplanes were damaged during from a conflict at the Tripoli airport, he worked with U.K. insurance companies to make payments directly to AirBus in an effort to avoid corruption and was able to help Libya purchase new planes.

Al-Ghawil continues to call for peace and unity in Libya, and stands firmly against terrorism and corruption. He insists that Libya’s unity government respect the principles of the revolution, and calls for the establishment of a democratic government by the people and for the people.