A Note from the Authors on 5th of June 2015: On the 24th March 2015 the UN proposed that Libya’s unity government would be led by a ‘presidential council of independent personalities.’ Therefore, this article’s relevance is that it considers what is an independent personality? Specifically, what are the UN qualifications that makes one independent? Is a Libyan ONLY disqualified due to ties with an established political party or religious group – OR did the UN consider ties with the former regime?
The Ties that Bind. With 42 years of Gaddafi rule with remnants of the regime unapologetic as it openingly vows business-as-usual upon return, a future leader’s ties to the old regime are imperative to consider. Even without the fiercely fought – and HoR dismissed – lustration legislation, Libya’s Isolation Law, regime ties must be discussed and included as a prerequisite for an independent personality. Why? In many cases the ties to the regime are deeper as they are family/tribal oriented and stronger than just a political and/or religious affiliation.
Hafed Al Ghwell and Ahmed Gaddafi-dam. 10th August 2014. From Hafed Al Ghwell’s Facebook site, now removed. It was originally published within this article on the 12 August 2014.
In this context of an independent personality with family regime ties, we consider the broader issue for Libya. What if their leaders have regime affiliations? Although not a declared candidate, as most are not, we consider Mr. Al Ghwell’s lingering and/or new ties to the former regime in the context of being a candidate. This article considers Mr. Al Ghwell’s independence when he published on his public Facebook account an August 2014 image of an embrace of Ahmed Gaddafi-dam in Cairo. Ahmed Gaddafi-dam, always a contentious individual in the Libyan political scene, is Muammar’s cousin, spokesman for the tribe and considered by many; including the EU as still dangerous “to restoring civil peace.” Al Arabiya reported that although a top European court ruled in September 2014 EU sanctions imposed on him should be withdrawn, “the EU claimed Qadhaf Al Dam “still represented a threat to restoring civil peace.“
Al Arabiya: “It suspended the ruling, however, pending a EU appeal, noting that lifting the sanctions immediately could allow Qadhaf Al Dam to remove assets from the 28-member bloc, undercutting the effectiveness of possible future measures.”
Al Arabiya: “The European Union imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on leading Libyan figures close to Qaddafi as he launched a bloody and doomed effort to hold onto power in the face of a popular uprising in 2011. His cousin, Ahmed Mohmamed Qadhaf Al Dam, was put on the EU list on the grounds that since 1995 he had commanded “an elite army battalion in charge of Qaddafi’s personal security,” the General Court of the European Union said in a statement. Additionally, he was accused of being “involved in planning operations against Libyan dissidents abroad and was directly involved in terrorist activity,” it said.”
In contrast to the EU assessment of Mr. Gaddafi-dam, consider Mr. Al Ghwell’s March 2015 quote about Mr. Gaddafi-dam’s statesmanship. The Daily Mail quote:
“Hafed al Gwell, a liberal political analyst said: ‘He is the most senior and most capable of the Gaddafi clan. ‘His advantage is that he is moderate and is not seen as having blood on his hands as he was not involved in domestic politics. His problem is that he looks and sounds like Muammar Gaddafi.’
He still carries enormous influence in Libya, al Gwell argues, as his mother is from the Awlad Ali tribe, which dominates large segments of the Sahara while on the other side he is from the prominent Gaddafi tribe. ‘He is treated almost like a head of state by these tribes,’ al Gwell said.
His position as a former special envoy also gives him credibility abroad, al Gwell explains. ‘Having acted as Gaddafi’s interlocutor he is also a unique character on the international Arab scene with relationships extending over 40 years. The Saudis have blind trust in him.’
A conference involving all sides is a credible aim, he said. ‘It is vital to bring the old regime into the process, he said. ‘We have learned in Iraq the cost of excluding large chunks of the population who were linked to Saddam. We are still paying the price.”
‘It is vital to bring the old regime into the process.’ Inclusion of the regime, consider this concept.
Article Hafed Al Ghwell: INTERPOL Red Notice – Ibrahim Al Ghwel (English translation). HERE
Hafed Al Ghwell’s Father
Hafed Al Ghwell’s father “had been a friend of Gaddafi since the 1960’s” and Libya’s Lockerbie lawyer – all of this is acknowledged. But, there is the issue of Ibrahim Al-Ghwel, wanted in an INTERPOL Red Notice for felony money laundering. Is the friend to Gaddafi and the Lockerbie lawyer – Ibrahim Al-Ghwel, also the father of Hafed Ibrahim Al Ghwell? Evidence readily available on the internet located in this article leans in that direction, with or without Mr. Al Ghwell’s confirmation or denial. If so, we pondered if he becomes a declared candidate, the toil for Mr. Ghwell to govern a country while uphold its laws if his father is wanted by the same government he defends? At the minimum this lingering contentious issue should be aired for the Libyan people to determine the worthiness of Mr. Al Ghwell for leadership if he chooses to be a candidate.
Hafed Al Ghwell’s ‘«Libya Al-Mostakbal»’ – www_libya-al-mostakbal_org_news_clicked_67811 HERE
A 26 December 2015 clarification on the INTERPOL RED NOTICES: There seems to be confusion as to the Red Notices. It is an example of a Minister of Justice overstepping his portfolio with respect to the Libyan Prosecutor’s office and INTERPOL Red Notices. In April 2015, Mr. Ghwell noted that with an unverified document in a Libya Al Mostakbal article that ”Libya asks the Interpol officially to suspend all red notices against Libyan nationals.”
Two points need to be clarified. First, under Libyan Law, the Minister of Justice DOES NOT SUPERVISE the Libyan Judiciary or the Prosecutor’s office whether they are in Tripoli or Tobruk. The Libyan Judiciary and Prosecutor’s office are separate, equal, distinct entities from the Ministry of Justice. Secondly, under Libyan law, the Minister of Justice’s portfolio does NOT cover the INTERPOL red notices. Rather, the INTERPOL Red Notices are under the purview or the portfolio of the Investigation Department for the Libyan General Prosecutors Office – NOT the Minister of Justice’s office. Therefore, the Minister of Justice did generate a letter – but per Libyan law – he is not allowed to suspend or cancel the Interpol Red Notices without the request of the Investigation Department for the Libyan General Prosecutors Office. We note that the Minister of Justice did not have this request. (See insert)
We note that Mr. Al Ghwell’s article makes no reference to these nuances of Libyan law in this respect.
RED NOTICES Chief Prosecutor Al Sur «Libya Al-Mostakbal»’ – www_libya-al-mostakbal_org_news_clicked_75982 HERE
As such we have noted that that Ibrahim Al-Ghwel’s Red Notice was still on the INTERPOL site as of 5 June 2015. Seemingly suspended but not canceled. Confirming this on the 20th of May 2015 on Al Nabaa television channel, Siddek Al Sour, the Head of the Investigation Department for the Libyan General Prosecutors Office in Tripoli said of the Libya’s INTERPOL Red Notices, The Red Notices were not canceled, they are still in effect. Tobruk just froze them. On 24th of July 2015, we questioned if all Interpol notices had been cancelled. On the 27 July 2015, Libya Al Mostakbal reported that it was NOT officially suspended/cancelled – meaning as per Libyan law and within THEIR PORTFOLIO, the Prosecutor’s office had NOT requested their suspension/cancellation. Rather, Mr. Al Sour suggested that non-payment may have removed the INTERPOL RED NOTICES.
Finally, we reiterate again under Libyan Law the Minister of Justice does not supervise the Libyan Judiciary or the Prosecutor’s office and the INTERPOL red notices are not within his portfolio. Rather, the INTERPOL Red Notices –per Libyan Law – were within the portfolio of the Investigation Department for Libyan General Prosecutor’s office. Therefore, without the Investigation Department for Libyan General Prosecutor’s office request to suspend or cancel the Red Notices – which Mr. Al Sour did not give – the Minister of Justice’s letter is just a letter – as per Libyan Law.
As such we leave the original article as is when the INTERPOL Red Notices were suspended but not cancelled as noted in April 2015 by Mr. AL Ghwell. The rest of the article…
Finally, the relevant update to this article is that it seems that Mr. Al Ghwell has left The World Bank and Mr. Al Ghwell’s 31 May 2015 tweet. We think this says it all. https://twitter.com/HafedAlGhwell/status/605063213026263040 and the retort by one of Libya’s premiere’s media outlet, Libya Al Hurra.
For an compelling end, we suggest the 7 comments Mr. Al Ghwell made to us about this article as well as for clarity the comments Mr. Al Ghwell made to a Libyan activist noting the word “TOOOZ”.
Now, the article as it was….
Mr. Hafed Al Ghwell is the Advisor to the Dean of the Board and the Executive Director at The World Bank -Development Research Group, Board of Executive Directors in Washington D.C. HERE, HERE
Hafed Al Ghwell and Ahmed Gaddafi-dam, Muammar Gaddafi’s cousin on the 10th August 2014. From Hafed Al Ghwell’s Facebook site. HERE
An excerpt from Hafed Al Ghwell’s ‘We must embrace Gaddafi’s allies … or else.’ FT.com Full article below. HERE
In light of the events of the last few days, we wish to pause work on another article to cover an event. Our discussion will be about the implications from recently-released images and the questions that the images generated.
In recent days, a few images were release by the owner, still others just came to light. Into this mix is the Financial Times article written by Hafed Al Ghwell with the astoundingly accurate title, We must embrace Gaddafi’s Allies…or Else. Given the irony of the recent photos released on Mr. Ghwell’s Facebook site, where he is seen hugging Muammar Gaddafi’s cousin, we offer a quote from that 31 August 2011 article:
“Libya has to follow the example of other countries and have an amnesty for former officials and supporters of the regime.”
An excerpt from the Financial Times’ article by Hafed Al Ghwell: We must embrace Gaddafi’s Allies…or else. Entire article below. HERE
It was a broad statement without any provisos such as: only those who committed corruption-related offenses OR those without blood on their hands. As Mr. Al Ghwell DID NOT make a distinction in this statement and based on the images and his praising comments on the 9th of August 2014 about Ahmed Gaddafi-dam, one could speculate that Mr. Al Ghwell meant ALL ‘former officials and supporters of the regime.’
Further, without any ambiguity, Mr. Ghwell used the word AMNESTY. Not the word TRIAL… as in ‘fair and just trials.’ In fact, Mr. Al Ghwell never mentioned the word trial as if to skip over this forthcoming judicial chapter in Libyan history. He jumped straight to Amnesty. As we know, an Amnesty is an official pardon, a reprieve, forgiveness for people who have been convicted of political offenses.
Another comment in his closing:
But as a priority, it must be made clear that everyone in society, irrespective of ethnicity, religion and politics – and yes, that must include former Gaddafi officials who have no blood on their hands – must be allowed a role in government.
Given the positive comments of August 2014 about Mr. Gaddafi-dam, one can speculate that Mr. Ghwell has even rescinded this stipulation in his 2011 comment, ‘and yes, that must include former Gaddafi officials who have no blood on their hands – must be allowed a role in government. Again, we note that in this 2011 statement there is no mention of a trial to determine ‘blood on the hands’ for any Gaddafi official including, one could presume, Mr. Gaddafi-dam.
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: IBRAHIM AL GHWEL INTERPOL Red Notice Translated English HERE
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: IBRAHIM AL GHWEL INTERPOL Red Notice Original Arabic 2012-300693 HERE
Amnesty is for whom?
Given the question of the INTERPOL Red Notice, we have to ask the Amnesty is for whom? Evidence is mounting about the identity of that bespectacled gentleman wanted by Libya for:
Felony money laundering, felony theft of public funds, a felony causing intentional damage to a serious public funds, a felony acquire funds illegally.
Hafed Al Ghwell: Should I Consider Him Friend or Foe? The Global Attitude 25 November 2011. Entire article below. HERE
Hafed Al Ghwell’s father
We were able to locate an Global Attitude article written by colleagues of Mr. Al Ghwell. Mr. Al Ghwell was aware of the article as commented at the end of the article by thanking those who praised him. ‘Hafed was the son of an attorney that represented the Gaddafi regime and the two accused in the Lockerbie case. His father was a Gaddafi supporter.’ From the article:
‘Based on the highly charged posts, I was able to determine that Hafed was the son of an attorney that represented the Gaddafi regime and the two accused in the Lockerbie case. His father was a Gaddafi supporter. By virtue of association, it seems a few Libyans determined that Hafed was a Gaddafi supporter as well. However, others engaged him in intelligent conversations about the future of Libya. While opinions weren’t always in sync, it seemed that they all had the same long-term hope for Libya.
The article continues:
‘Hafed thought it was also important to note that his father never held an official government position. His father had been a friend of Gaddafi since 1960’s.‘
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: IBRAHIM AL GHWEL INTERPOL 2012-300693 HERE
A Personal Motive for the Amnesty?
So, is the man with the INTERPOL Red Notice, Hafed Al Ghwell’s father?
If so, than the proposal for Amnesty for ‘former officials and supporters’, has a new personal twist in its meaning? The Global Attitude article states that Mr. Al Ghwell’s father as a ‘Gaddafi supporter’ and ‘friend of Gaddafi’. Therefore, Amnesty could then become an issue of political nepotism. Nepotism in that, IF Ibrahim al-Ghwel is his father, and Mr. Al Ghwell’s opinion on Amnesty is given in aid of his father, it could be suggestion to help persuade Libyan decision-makers to eliminate his father’s INTERPOL warrant. We will not know until Mr. Al Ghwell is forthcoming with an official denial or confirmation AND subsequent clarification on the issue.
The timing of Mr. Al Ghwell’s meeting with Mr. Gaddafi-dam
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: Egypt should consider military action in Libya says Amr Moussa The Guardian 4 August 2014 HERE
With respect to the timing of 8-11th August 2014 meeting in Egypt, coincidental or not, only 4 days earlier, the Guardian reported on a 3rd August statement release by unofficial spokesman for the Egypt president. Amr Moussa has speculated that Egypt is considering an invasion of Libya for ‘national security reasons.’
‘Moussa’s prominence – and his closeness to Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, for whom he has at times acted as an unofficial mouthpiece – has led to speculation that an Egyptian offensive in Libya is on the table.’
Couple in the timing of Mr. Al Ghwell’s mini-summit with Mr. Gaddafi-dam in consideration of his STATUS under this SAME Egyptian Government: As Mr. Gaddafi-dam is an Egyptian, he will not be extradited. Although Libya is still trying to extradite him, Libyan Foreign Minister Abdel Aziz said in a translated April 2014 interview:
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: Another excerpt of Libyan FM Mohamed Abdel Aziz’s interview ‘Armed groups are out of Control’. Translated interview in Al Monitor the Pulse of the Middle East. HERE
‘Regarding trying those symbolizing the former regime, Abdel Aziz said his country is committed to fair trials. “Regarding Ahmad Gaddaf al-Dam, we have asked Egypt for his extradition. They told us that he holds Egyptian nationality. All we know is that he’s a wanted Libyan,” he said.’
Understandably, Libyans may question the timing of Mr. Al Ghwell’s meeting with Mr. Gaddafi-dam considering his extradition to Libya has been DENIED by the SAME Egyptian Government. HERE
Mr. Al Ghwell and Mr. Ahmed Gaddafi-dam. We offer this 31 October 2014 tweet by Mr. Al Ghwell linking to Mr. Gaddafi-dam’s twitter account. Mr. Al Ghwell quoted Mr. Gaddafi-dam, Muammar Gaddafi’s cousin, as stating in Arabic that he is “Ready to sit down with the assassins of Gadhafi for Libya…” https://twitter.com/HafedAlGhwell/status/528210464191561730
For all these reasons, above and below, the Libyan people should be informed of the motivations, altruistic or not, of a ‘U.S.-based Libyan activist’ who offers his opinion about Libya to the international media (Reuters) while meeting with controversial people, both of which are about issues that affect THEIR lives.
A note from the Authors: On 18th November 2014 we provide an update and possibly a conclusion.
Facebook Hafed Al Ghwell: 11 Nov 2014 image of ‘Hafed Al Ghwell www_facebook_com_hafed_alghwell
Hafed Ibrahim Al Ghwell now indicates his full name on HIS Facebook account. Consider that Mr. Hafed Ibrahim Al Ghwell publicly denotes his middle name as Ibrahim, in the Arab/Muslim tradition of taking one’s fathers name AND couple that with the eerily similar photo of Lockerbie Lawyer Ibrahim Legwell (below) to the Interpol mugshot, Libyans may draw their own conclusions… without any confirmation or denial from Mr. Al Ghwell about his father. Note: as Gaddafi, Gadhafi, Khadafi has its many spellings so does Al Ghwel, Al Ghwell and Leghwell.
Article on Hafed Al Ghwell: Ibrahim Legwell was Libya’s Lockerbie Lawyer. Mr. Legwell is on the right. We note that as Gaddafi, Khadafi, Gadhafi is spelled in many different ways so may Al Ghwell, Al Ghwel OR Legwell. HERE
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Parts of this Op/ED article is reproduced in accordance with Section 107 of title 17 of the Copyright Law of the United States relating to fair-use and is for the purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
Hafed Al Ghwell’s article: We must embrace Gaddafi’s allies…or else. August 2011 in the Financial Times.com HERE
Hafed Al Ghwell: Should I Consider him friend or foe. The Global Attitude HERE
The New Libya Report 
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LOL ….
… and here we have the professional ramblings of a World Bank Executive Director and politician wannabe. Yet, Mr. Hafed *Ibrahim Al Ghwell, you didn’t answer the burning question from our viewers, is Ibrahim Al Ghwel your father? The Libyan people are waiting…
(*Moftah Sharif, a Libyan Politician referred to Mr. Al Ghwell as Hafed Ibrahim Al Ghwell in this article.)
Oh Hafed, what do you expect from a man with a bloodline of rat goat hybrid….
when you buy some decency and guts to write with your real name …. let me know and I will reply to you….. otherwise you will remain just a fly on my radar 🙂
Mr. Al Ghwell:
Since this is the SECOND time that you chose to comment on our article, we can conclude that the FACTS provided about you have struck a nerve. Are we correct? Although you have been an American for a number of years, you failed to grasp the intricacies of the watchdog relationship between journalists and politicians. That is, if a politician or wannabes places himself in front of the media, he/she becomes worthy of scrutiny. As you have chosen the limelight…that is to be the voice of Libyans, it is our duty to scrutinize you.
More than that, we say in our opinion that your comments to our site reflect the fact that you are a vulgar man. Further, as witnessed during the Mr. Gaddafi-dam summit in Cairo in August, in cases you verbally berated your legitimate, worthy detractors by utilized the old Gaddafi terminology of a rat, a criminal OR A FLY ON YOUR RADAR culminating with Muammar Gaddafi’s favorite dismissive term of TOOOZ. <img src="https://mobile.twitter.com/HafedAlGhwell/status/498495873924734976" alt= Can we infer that you are reflecting your roots growing up with a father who is a “friend of Gaddafi since the 1960’s”?
Much more disturbing for you, is that fact that your Twitter behavior is questionable if it is reflective of The Code and Conduct of your position as a Board Member of The World Bank. That is, ‘…Board Officials shall maintain the highest standards of integrity in their personal and professional conduct.’
As the Advisor to the Dean of the Board and the Executive Director at The World Bank -Development Research Group, we took this from the PDF of the World Bank’s CODE OF CONDUCT FOR BOARD OFFICIALS EFFECTIVE AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2007. ‘This Code of Conduct for Board Officials has been adopted… to set forth principles and ethical standards for Board Officials…’
Let us elaborate:
Maybe you should choose your replies carefully.
And once again, as this story keeps biting at your ankles …maybe you should come clean and divulge the nature of your relationship to Ibrahim al Ghwel, the man with eerily similar combed-back-hairstyle in the INTERPOL Red Alert mugshot. The Libyan People are still waiting….
how very sad for you and Liby auto have such idiots parading as journalists …… hiding behind furashisa and building sand casells ….. I am glad you actually replied at length and in this manner….. it will come handy when I decide to sue you for slander and defamation ….. check with a lawyer…. he will explain it to your stupid brain
by the way… ask your lawyer to explain to you also how the number of days you this post stays up …. adds to the crime of defemation … and you can go right ahead and talk to the world bank 🙂
as for others who may read this…. I invite them to follow my tweets at :…….
and facebook:…… (we choose not to advertise you or your accounts… The New Libya Report)
and hear it directly from me instead of a brain dead cowards who think I don’t know who they are LOL
Thanks for adding to our knowledge of you through your comments. We rest our case and leave it to the Libyan people to decide about you.
LMAO ……sure… when I decide to run for office and start caring about the kind of the Libyan ” Beoble” that listen to you… I will let you know
https://twitter.com/HafedAlGhwell/status/526768902991519745
that slanderous post has been up since August 12 and still counting …. please keep it up longer until we meet in court 🙂