Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to US President Donald Trump for Arab, Middle Eastern, and African Affairs, has said that Libya is witnessing positive developments in peace negotiations between rival political actors, citing tangible progress toward institutional unification and greater national stability.
Speaking in a televised interview with Al Mashhad TV, Boulos praised the efforts of United Nations envoy Hanna Serwaa Tetteh in advancing the UN-backed political roadmap aimed at resolving Libya’s long-running political crisis.
Boulos expressed optimism about the prospects for a Libyan-led solution, saying the current atmosphere differs significantly from conflicts elsewhere in the region. He noted that international efforts are focused on supporting and complementing the United Nations process rather than replacing it.
“There is optimism regarding a Libyan-Libyan solution,” Boulos said, adding that recent developments indicate meaningful movement toward consensus and stability.
The US adviser also thanked several regional and international partners for their role in supporting diplomatic efforts, specifically mentioning Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, Qatar, Italy, Jordan, and a number of other Arab, African, and European countries involved in the process.
Boulos said he hopes Libya will continue moving toward the unification of state institutions and the organisation of parliamentary and presidential elections. He stressed that the timing of any elections should ultimately be determined by Libyans themselves, while expressing hope that the process can move forward as quickly as possible.
According to Boulos, decisions regarding Libya’s political future remain a sovereign matter for the Libyan people. However, he noted that growing cooperation among domestic and international stakeholders has created a more favourable environment for progress.
He further stated that if a comprehensive political agreement is reached among Libyan parties, the next step would involve action at the United Nations Security Council to reinforce and support the agreement internationally.
Boulos pointed to what he described as notable achievements in the process of unifying Libya’s institutions. Among them, he highlighted the announcement of a unified national budget, which he said marked the first such development in more than 13 years.
He also referred to recent military cooperation initiatives, including the participation of forces from eastern and western Libya in the Flintlock 26 military exercise organised by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) on Libyan territory. He described the participation as an encouraging sign of growing coordination between military institutions from different parts of the country.
The remarks come amid renewed international efforts to advance Libya’s political process, strengthen state institutions, and create conditions that could pave the way for long-awaited national elections and a lasting political settlement.