Libyan trade unions have congratulated House of Representatives Speaker Ageela Saleh on his election as President of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, describing the outcome of the Benghazi conference as a major national achievement for Libya.
Saleh received a congratulatory message from the Supreme Council of Libyan Federations and Trade Unions after Libya was also selected as the permanent headquarters of the council’s General Secretariat. The announcement came at the end of the organisation’s second international conference, hosted by Benghazi on Saturday, 27 June 2026.
The Libyan unions, which are members of the International Federation of Asian and African Trade Unions, praised the success of the conference, which brought together several Arab, Asian and African parliaments. They said the event reflected Libya’s gradual return to an active role in regional and international organisations after years of political division and limited formal representation abroad.
In their message, the unions also rejected any remarks aimed at downplaying the conference’s significance or questioning the standing of its guests and participants. They commended the efforts of Saud Rashid Al-Hujailan, First Deputy President of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council and President of the International Federation of Asian and African Trade Unions, for supporting joint parliamentary and union cooperation.
The Benghazi conference was presented by its supporters as a step towards strengthening Libya’s diplomatic presence and rebuilding its role in international platforms. The decision to choose Libya as the permanent seat of the council’s General Secretariat was seen as particularly symbolic, reflecting renewed confidence in the country’s ability to host major political and parliamentary gatherings.
In a related diplomatic move, Aqeela Saleh travelled to Cairo to take part in the eighth conference of the Arab Parliament and the heads of Arab councils and parliaments. The event was held at the headquarters of the Arab League in partnership with the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Saleh was accompanied by members of the Libyan House of Representatives and Arab Parliament members Abdulsalam Nassiya and Hassan Al-Barghouthi. The session was chaired by Arab Parliament Speaker Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Yamahi, with the participation of Sheikh Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council and President of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The Cairo conference included broad discussions on issues of common Arab concern, with a focus on strengthening parliamentary cooperation and unifying political positions on regional and international files. Participants also discussed ways to activate parliamentary diplomacy and exchange legislative expertise in support of shared Arab interests.
The two events highlight Libya’s growing parliamentary engagement at both regional and international levels, as the country seeks to restore its diplomatic influence and strengthen its representation in multilateral institutions.
