Libya revives military unity talks as rival commanders meet in Sirte

SIRTE, Libya – Senior military commanders from eastern and western Libya met in the central city of Sirte on Sunday in a renewed attempt to reunify the country’s long-divided armed forces, as the United Nations and international partners pressed efforts to break years of institutional fragmentation that has hampered political reconciliation.

The meeting brought together eastern forces Chief of Staff Khaled Haftar, western Chief of Staff Salah al-Din al-Namroush, members of the UN-backed Joint Military Commission (5+5), representatives of the Joint Security and Military Committee (3+3), and officials from the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The talks marked the latest effort to bridge one of the deepest divisions created by Libya’s years of conflict, with the military remaining split between forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar and those aligned with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity.

Welcoming the gathering, eastern forces Deputy Commander Saddam Haftar described Sirte as “the city that unites the nation,” saying the meeting formed part of a broader national effort to establish a professional military institution capable of safeguarding Libya’s sovereignty and strengthening stability.

He said building a unified armed force on national and professional foundations remained essential to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and restoring state authority after years of political turmoil.

Haftar also praised the support provided by the United States, particularly the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), alongside the United Nations, describing international backing as an important element in efforts to rebuild Libya’s military institutions.

“Our work will continue towards building a unified military institution capable of protecting Libya’s borders and strengthening national unity,” he said.

Despite the positive tone surrounding the meeting, no joint statement outlining concrete agreements or timelines was released, underlining the complexity of negotiations that have repeatedly stalled despite years of mediation.

Military reunification remains one of the principal pillars of the political roadmap endorsed by the United Nations since Libya’s October 2020 ceasefire agreement signed in Geneva.

The Joint Military Commission (5+5), composed of five officers from each side, was established under that accord to oversee implementation of the ceasefire, facilitate the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries, and create conditions for reunifying Libya’s fragmented military establishment.

More recently, the two sides also established the Joint Security and Military Committee (3+3), bringing together three representatives from each camp to coordinate border security, counter-terrorism operations and efforts to combat organised crime, representing the first formal mechanism for direct operational cooperation between the rival military commands.

The military remains divided alongside Libya’s competing political administrations.

The internationally recognised Government of National Unity, headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah, controls much of western Libya from Tripoli, while the eastern-based administration headed by Osama Hammad, appointed by the House of Representatives, exercises authority across eastern Libya and much of the country’s south.

Repeated attempts to organise presidential and parliamentary elections have failed amid disputes over constitutional arrangements, electoral laws and candidate eligibility.

The United Nations and foreign governments view military reunification as a prerequisite for restoring national institutions, improving security and creating conditions conducive to holding long-delayed nationwide elections.

Although Sunday’s meeting produced no publicly announced breakthroughs, officials and analysts said the continued dialogue itself demonstrated that communication channels between the rival commands remained active at a time when domestic and international pressure for institutional reunification continues to grow.