US presidential adviser for Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos said his meeting with senior officials from eastern and western Libya in Malta was "constructive", stressing that the meeting comes as part of ongoing US efforts to support the unification of Libyan state institutions after years of political and administrative division.

Boulos explained that the meeting brought together senior officials from both Libyan parties, noting that the main goal is to support the Libyan path towards institutional unification, stressing that "a united Libya will be more stable and prosperous, and a stronger economic and security partner for the United States and the world."

Although the names of the participants in the US statement were not mentioned, the Times of Malta newspaper reported that the meeting included Ibrahim Dbeibeh, the national security adviser in the government of national unity, Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the forces in eastern Libya, the deputy minister of defense in the government of national unity, Abdul Salam al-Zoubi, and the minister of state for communication and political affairs in the same government, Walid al-Lafi, according to the Maltese newspaper.

As of the time of writing, there has been no comment from the parties to the conflict in Libya on the Malta meeting, although the meeting has been held since Monday, July 6, 2026.

U.S. plan to divide power in Libya

The Financial Times revealed on June 18 that a new US move to unify Libyan state institutions through a power-sharing agreement between the two rival administrations in the east and west in a bid to end the political divide that has hampered the oil-rich country's investment.

In an interview with the newspaper, Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump's adviser on the Middle East and Africa, confirmed that Washington is working to "form a unified government and unify Libyan institutions," while encouraging American oil companies to invest in the country.

According to informed sources, the US plan includes appointing Saddam Haftar, the son of military commander Khalifa Haftar, at the head of the Presidential Executive Council, while the head of the Government of National Unity, Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, remains in office, while giving a relative a position in national security.

The plan indicates that this arrangement will be short-term, pave the way for parliamentary and presidential elections, and complement the UN's efforts to unify Libya, and despite Italian support for the plan, diplomats and analysts believe that its implementation faces significant challenges due to the lack of trust between the Libyan parties and the reliance of leaders on armed factions to consolidate their influence.

Ongoing division and waiting for elections

Since the beginning of 2022, Libya has been divided between two governments: the government of national unity in Tripoli runs the west, and the government in charge of the House of Representatives in Benghazi manages the east and most of the south.

Despite the efforts of the UN mission, attempts to reach inclusive elections remain faltering, and Libyans hope that the expected entitlements will end the state of division that has persisted since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011.