Qatar pledges support for efforts to end Libya’s political division

Qatar’s Minister of State, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi, pledged his nation’s dedication to resolving the long-standing political division in Libya during a visit to Benghazi. The meeting occurred on Thursday with Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army, which supports the unrecognised eastern government.

Libya has been divided since 2014 between the Tripoli-based National Unity government led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and Haftar’s eastern administration under Osama Hammad. Al-Khulaifi expressed Qatar’s backing for Libyan unity and sovereignty during the visit. The discussion between the two officials covered regional events and matters of mutual interest, according to the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

Al-Khulaifi reiterated Qatar’s commitment to a political process that reflects Libyans’ aspirations while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty. He also emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and reconciliation efforts to achieve consensus and stability. Qatar plans to continue engaging with Libyan parties and leaders to assist UN-led initiatives aimed at reaching a political agreement.

Earlier, al-Khulaifi discussed potential methods to support the political process and national dialogue with Libyan leaders in Tripoli. On Wednesday, Libyan negotiators reached an initial election pact in Tunisia, known as the "4+4" committee deal. This agreement, which outlines laws for presidential and legislative elections and sets a 24-month timeline for their conduct, was drawn up by four members from the eastern House of Representatives and the Tripoli-linked High Council of the State.

However, the pact is facing challenges, as those involved claim they were either not invited to the talks or did not receive the final version. The United Nations has called the deal a significant step forward, with the full agreement to be published upon formal signing. Despite years of efforts, implementing the pact remains difficult due to divided state institutions, legal gaps, and persistent political mistrust.

Libyan legal expert Al-Mahdi Kashbour told Al Jazeera that there is a discrepancy between the powers of the signatories and the institutions responsible for implementation. Political analyst Elias al-Barouni noted that the pact lacks concrete election plans, and if legal obstacles are overcome, the next challenge will be determining who governs Libya in the interim.