Menfi backs US initiative if channelled through national institutions

The Presidential Council chairman, Mohamed Menfi, has said he would welcome any US initiative on the country, provided it is presented through Libya’s national constitutional institutions.

Speaking during a virtual meeting of the African Union’s bureau, Menfi warned against bypassing domestic institutions or sidelining the roles of the African Union and the United Nations.

He said reports of a possible US proposal were “welcome” in principle, but cautioned that, so far, they remain speculative. He expressed concern that any initiative introduced outside official frameworks could exclude Libya’s constitutional bodies, the AU, the UN-led political process and key Libyan stakeholders.

Menfi stressed that maintaining Africa’s role in resolving the Libyan crisis was a shared responsibility.

He took part in the meeting as a member of the AU executive bureau, alongside representatives from Burundi, Ghana, Tanzania and Angola. The session was convened by Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye, who currently chairs the African Union.

In his remarks, Menfi said Africa faces “complex and rapidly evolving challenges”, calling for stronger coordination among member states and faster implementation of the AU’s Agenda 2063.

He reiterated the principle of “African solutions to African problems”, urging that crises be addressed through regional and continental institutions, without external interference.

On Libya, he said reinforcing the roles of the AU, national institutions and the UN process was essential to safeguarding the country’s unity, sovereignty and stability.

His comments come amid increasing discussion of a US-backed power-sharing proposal. In the east, Khalifa Haftar has publicly welcomed the idea, calling it a “realistic opportunity” to resolve the crisis.

More than 40 members of Libya’s House of Representatives have also voiced support for the initiative.

Separately, the leadership of Libya’s three main political bodies—the House of Representatives, the High Council of State and the Presidential Council—have agreed on a roadmap to end the transitional period.

The plan includes holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections by 17 February 2027, alongside efforts to unify state institutions and implement economic reforms.