[8] Bashagha graduated from the Misrata aviation college in 1984 and spent a decade working as a trainer pilot specializing in fighter jets.

[13] Bashagha is described by journalist Fehim Tastekin as "wield[ing] influence over the Mahjoub and Halbous brigades in Misrata", being the [Muslim] Brotherhood's man" in the GNA and having "strong bonds" with the government of Turkey.

[14] Sami Zaptia, writing in the Libya Herald in September 2020, saw Bashagha's role in the GNA as being as strong as, or perhaps stronger than, that of prime minister Fayez al-Sarraj.

[16] On 21 February 2021, Bashagha survived an ambush by gunmen on his motorcade in Tripoli, in which one of his guards was wounded and the others chased the assailants, killing one of them and arresting two others.

[17] In the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum procedure for choosing a unified executive authority ahead of the 24 December 2021 Libyan general election, Mohamed al-Menfi ran on a joint ticket with Abdul Hamid al-Dabaib as prime minister and Musa al-Koni and Abdallah al-Lafi as members of the Presidential Council.

Their list obtained 39 votes, five more than that of {head of state according to the secularist eastern government) Aguila Saleh Issa and Fathi Bashagha.

[19] On 10 February 2022, the House of Representatives selected Fathi Bashagha as prime minister-designate, after HoR Speaker Aguila Saleh announced that the only other candidate, Khalid Al-Baybas, withdrew his candidacy.

[23] The United Nations has voiced concerns over the vote due to reports on lack of transparency and procedure, and acts of intimidation prior to the HoR session.