Senior military commanders from Libya’s rival eastern and western forces have held high-level talks in the central city of Sirte as efforts to reunify the country’s divided armed forces gather pace. The meeting brought together eastern Chief of Staff Khaled Haftar and western military commander Salah al-Din al-Namroush, alongside representatives of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. In a brief statement, eastern military authorities described the discussions as “constructive” but did not disclose details of the agenda or any agreements reached.
The talks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts to reunify Libya, which has remained politically and militarily divided since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya is currently split between the internationally recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and the eastern-based Government of National Stability, backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar. Diplomatic sources say broader reunification talks began late last year after both rival administrations requested Pakistan to mediate negotiations. The initiative is reportedly supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey.
Under a proposed roadmap, Libya would enter a 36-month transitional power-sharing arrangement, with Dbeibeh remaining prime minister while Haftar’s son, Saddam Haftar, would chair a presidential council. The proposal also reportedly grants the eastern administration greater authority over budget management, reflecting its control of much of Libya’s oil infrastructure and production facilities. Observers view the military dialogue in Sirte as a significant confidence-building measure that could help pave the way for unified state institutions and long-delayed national elections.
