US delegation meets with Haftar and western security officials

Jan 23, 2024 | International actors

On 23 January, a US delegation comprising US Special Envoy to Libya Richard Norland, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the US State Department Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Joshua Harris, and the US Charge d’Affaires to Libya Jeremy Berndt met with Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi. The US said they stressed the importance of ensuring ‘a conducive environment for Libyans to freely choose their representatives as Libya prepares for the upcoming municipal elections.’ They also emphasized US support for ‘efforts to unify Libya’s military, safeguard Libyan sovereignty, and ensure reconstruction efforts in Derna and other flood-affected areas be carried out in a timely and transparent manner’.

On 25 January, the US delegation met with the Government of National Unity’s (GNU) Chief of Staff Muhammed al-Haddad in Tripoli. They reaffirmed US support for Libyan efforts to secure its borders and advance the reunification of military institutions.