The Chiefs of staff of Libya’s rival military forces held their first-ever meeting on Libyan soil this Sunday, July 12, in Sirte, marking a significant step towards unifying the country’s armed forces.
The meeting was co-chaired by Salah al-Din al-Namroush of the UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) and Khaled Haftar of the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), with senior military officers and UN Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs Stephanie Koury in attendance.
The two sides agreed that unifying the military is essential to protecting Libya’s borders and ensuring national stability. They also approved plans for a joint military exercise in southern Libya, aimed at strengthening operational readiness and cooperation between the rival forces.
The meeting further agreed on monthly coordination meetings between service chiefs to improve institutional performance, while discussing measures to support military personnel, strengthen their capabilities and protect their administrative and financial rights.
The Sunday meeting forms part of ongoing Libyan and UN-backed efforts to bridge the long-standing military divide that has persisted since the 2011 overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, which left the country split between the GNU in Tripoli and the eastern administration backed by the LNA.
