Libyan ground force chiefs from the east and west met inside Libya on July 15, 2026, to discuss unifying the country's military [1].
This meeting marks a significant attempt to merge fragmented security forces that have long divided the nation. Achieving a single, unified military is considered a critical requirement for lasting national reconciliation, and political stability.
Lieutenant General Khaled Haftar, representing the eastern region, and Lieutenant General Salah al-Din al-Namroush, representing the western military region, led the talks [1]. The gathering was attended by Stephanie Kfoury, the UN Special Representative for Political Affairs [1].
The meeting is described as a step toward the unification of Libya’s military institution [1]. It follows efforts by the joint military committee, commonly referred to as "5+5" [1].
Officials said the goal is to advance the unification of security and military institutions as part of a broader national reconciliation effort [1], [2]. This domestic meeting is the first official gathering of its kind between the two chiefs of staff held within Libyan borders [1].
While the exact city of the meeting was not specified, the presence of UN leadership suggests an international push to stabilize the region [1]. The process involves coordinating the disparate commands of the eastern and western regions to create a cohesive national force [1], [2].
“The first official meeting inside Libya between the two chiefs of staff.”
The meeting represents a shift from foreign-mediated talks to direct, domestic engagement between Libya's rival military factions. By bringing the eastern and western chiefs of staff together on home soil, the UN and Libyan leadership are attempting to bridge the geographic and political divide that has persisted since the collapse of the central state. Success depends on whether this symbolic gesture leads to a concrete command structure and the integration of regional militias into a single national army.
