In the Libya Herald exposee, Congressmen Move to Dismiss Mangoush as Army Chief of Staff George Grant explains that discontent over the performance of Libya's central authorities are boiling over and 50 members have added their names to a motion calling for greater transparency and auditing the performance of senior government officials many of whom are hold overs from the Al-Kib government. At the top of the list to be scrutinized is the Army Chief of Staff because frankly few concrete steps have been taken to improve security, demobilize the militias, and actually build a coherent national army.
It is understood that the majority of those supporting the motion are members of the NFA or independents. Members of the Islamist Justice & Construction party along with Congress members from Misrata, where Mangoush – though born in Benghazi – originally has his roots, are said not to be included.In an unclassified US diplomatic cable sent on 11 September 2012, "In times of crisis, Mangoush has no other choice than to turn to their brigades for help, they said, as he did recently with unrest in Kufra. As part of this arrangement, Mangoush often provides the brigades direct stocks of weapons and ammunition.”Although the landscape shifted significantly following the death of Ambassador Stevens and the Save Benghazi demonstration that followed, Benghazi’s brigades still operate with effective autonomy. The two national army colonels appointed to take control of Rafallah Al-Sahati and the 17 February brigade – as part of the drive to replace militia leaders with professional military ones – were quickly side-lined. Colonel Salah Al-Din Bin Omran, the anointed leader of Rafallah Al-Sahati, is now said to be in Sirte, whilst Colonel Amrajaa Al-Msheiti operates from an office not even located on the 17 February brigade’s compound.