The Libyan Parliament-designate government in East Libya, led by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, has formally called on Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) to open an official headquarters in Benghazi and conduct its activities from the city in full coordination with relevant national authorities.
The demand was made during a meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Benghazi, attended by representatives of MSF, the Ministry of Health, and other competent bodies. The meeting focused on reviewing the organisation’s previous activities in Libya and discussing its proposed operational framework for 2026, according to a statement published by the ministry.
During the meeting, the ministry stressed that all humanitarian activities carried out by MSF must be implemented through local partners, foremost among them the Ministry of Health, as the legally mandated national authority. Officials underlined the need to avoid unilateral or uncoordinated action and called for unified efforts that align with Libya’s institutional framework.
The government also requested MSF to submit a comprehensive and detailed report outlining all activities conducted in Libya in recent years, in order to assess them in line with national legal and regulatory standards. Authorities emphasised that establishing an official office in Benghazi would facilitate administrative oversight and institutional coordination, proposing quarterly meetings to monitor implementation and compliance.
The ministry reiterated that MSF must strictly adhere to Libyan laws and instructions issued by Prime Minister Osama Hammad, while respecting the principles of neutrality and refraining from any political or religious involvement or actions that could undermine Libyan social values.
Officials further agreed with MSF representatives on prioritising the localisation of medical services, particularly regarding equipment for communicable and endemic diseases, and the preparation of isolation centres in coordination with the Ministries of Health and Interior and the Anti-Illegal Migration Agency.
The ministry stressed that MSF’s 2026 action plan should be based on Libya’s national priorities rather than externally designed programmes, reaffirming that it remains the sole sovereign authority legally responsible for regulating the work of foreign organisations in the country.
