Libyan High Council of State rejects U.S. proposal for East-West power-sharing

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

The Libyan High Council of State on Monday rejected a proposal submitted by Massad Boulos, U.S. President's Senior Adviser for Africa, aimed at facilitating a power-sharing agreement between the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity and eastern factions, following an official vote within the Council.

In a statement released on its official Facebook page, the Council emphasized that any political or economic settlement reached outside the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement, a United Nations-brokered agreement signed by Libya's factions in 2015, is considered null and void.

A member of the Council, Amina Al-Mahjoub, told the local news outlet Fawasel that the Council voted on the initiative presented by Boulos, which proposed forming a small-scale government representing both eastern and western Libya, and the outcome was a "firm rejection."

According to local media reports, the U.S. proposal suggests that Saddam Haftar, son of Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Tobruk-based Libyan National Army, assume the positions of Head of the Presidential Council and Supreme Commander of the Libyan Army. Meanwhile, Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, would serve concurrently as Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.

The proposal sought to merge rival factions in eastern and western Libya while bypassing full elections or formal institutional consensus.

Since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the eastern administration backed by the Libyan National Army. The Libyan High National Elections Commission said late last year that presidential elections are scheduled for April 2026.