Qatar's Minister of State, Mr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, on August 28 visited the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi and met with Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar. The visit came as Libya seeks to heal years of political division.
According to a statement from Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides discussed regional developments and issues of mutual concern. Al-Khulaifi affirmed Qatar's support for "a political process that reflects the aspirations of the Libyan people while safeguarding the country's sovereignty." He also stressed the need for continued dialogue and reconciliation to build consensus and pave the way for long-term stability.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, al-Khulaifi said he had discussed with leaders in Tripoli how to support the political process and national dialogue. Qatar will continue to cooperate with Libyan parties and political forces to back United Nations efforts toward a political agreement.
Libya is currently divided between the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and an eastern-based administration headed by Osama Hammad, backed by Haftar. The split, ongoing since 2014, has fueled widespread security, political, and economic instability.
The Qatari official's visit follows a preliminary agreement among Libyan stakeholders on an electoral pact aimed at ending the divisions. The document, drafted by the "4+4" committee (four members from the eastern House of Representatives and four from the State Council in Tripoli) in Tunisia, provides for amendments to laws governing presidential and parliamentary elections and sets a 24-month timeline for holding the votes.
The United Nations hailed the agreement as an important step but acknowledged that its implementation faces significant challenges due to divided state institutions, legal gaps, and a lack of trust among parties. Many observers note that the pact lacks a concrete plan for the elections and, should legal hurdles be overcome, the next question would be who governs Libya during the transitional period.
