Libya’s False Peace
Libya remains politically divided despite a recent U.S.-brokered budget agreement between rival factions in Tripoli and Benghazi, which does not address the country's deeper structural issues. The current approach, led by Trump adviser Massad Boulos, focuses on elite-level financial deals rather than inclusive political reform, risking long-term instability. Sustainable progress requires support for UN-led efforts to strengthen independent institutions and prepare for national elections.
- ▪The U.S., under the second Trump administration, has increased engagement in Libya through adviser Massad Boulos, who brokered a budget agreement between Libya's rival governments.
- ▪The April 11 agreement marks the first unified budget in years but does not resolve Libya's political fragmentation or institutional weaknesses.
- ▪Libya has avoided major conflict since 2020, but both the Tripoli-based government and Haftar's eastern authorities continue to exploit state resources for personal gain.
- ▪Previous UN-led efforts to unify Libya’s institutions and hold elections failed due to lack of international follow-through and elite-centered dealmaking.
- ▪The 2022 UAE-brokered deal placed a Haftar ally at the head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, deepening concerns over politicized resource management.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Libya’s False PeaceThe Fractured Country Needs Political Unity, Not Washington’s Dealmaking Jalel Harchaoui and Frederic Wehrey May 1, 2026 Protesting Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba's government in Tripoli, December 2025 AFP / Getty Images JALEL HARCHAOUI is a Libya specialist with the Royal United Services Institute.FREDERIC WEHREY is Senior Fellow in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. More by Jalel Harchaoui More by Frederic Wehrey Share & Download Print Subscribe to unlock this feature or Sign in.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Foreign Affairs.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Foreign Affairs
