Libyan House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh outlined his vision for resolving the country’s political crisis during a meeting with Massad Boulos, the Middle East and Africa adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Libyan Reconstruction and Development Fund in Benghazi.
Saleh opened with a sharp critique of the executive authority formed under the Geneva agreement, describing it as the product of “large-scale corruption and bribery.” He accused the interim Presidential Council and Government of National Unity, established by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in early 2021, of failing to fulfill their mandate, particularly in organizing national elections.
He claimed the government had spent 460 billion dinars in Tripoli without delivering tangible results, and asserted that its control over the capital was limited to a single street. In contrast, Saleh praised the Libyan Armed Forces for maintaining stability in the areas under their control.
Stressing the need for a unified executive authority, Saleh argued that elections cannot be held fairly while two rival governments exist. “I believe in democracy and elections,” he said, “but they must be preceded by the formation of a single government—a demand accepted by all parties, including the armed forces.”
On the issue of Libya’s frozen assets abroad, Saleh insisted that any financial support or disbursement must be managed through the Reconstruction and Development Fund, which he described as the legitimate body under parliamentary oversight.
He called on the U.S. administration to support his political roadmap, which is based on the constitutional declaration and the political agreement. Saleh emphasized that only the House of Representatives and the High Council of State are authorized to form a new government, rejecting UN efforts to launch a new dialogue framework outside existing institutions.
Concluding his remarks, Saleh appealed for broader U.S. support across sectors, but reiterated that lasting stability hinges on unifying the executive branch and adhering to a constitutional path that guarantees free and fair elections.
