Paris, France – High-level French sources have revealed details of a secret, high-level meeting held in Paris, under joint French-American auspices. The meeting brought together the two main power brokers in eastern and western Libya: Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander of the Libyan National Army, and Ibrahim Dbeibah, advisor to the Government of National Accord.
A roadmap for removing “old faces”
According to reports in Monde Afrique, the talks achieved a surprising breakthrough on previously complex issues. An agreement was reached on a timetable for the complete removal of Libyan House of Representatives Speaker Aguila Saleh from the political scene in the coming phase. It was also decided to reduce the role of the current Presidential Council and explore replacing it with a joint body or a complete overhaul of its staff. Furthermore, both sides expressed their willingness to discuss the adoption of the 2019 maritime agreement with Turkey as part of a comprehensive settlement that guarantees the interests of all parties.
Al-Sharq’s conditions: Two-thirds of the government and sovereign institutions
Despite agreement on the individuals involved, the division of power remains a stumbling block. Sources revealed firm demands from Haftar’s camp, including obtaining two-thirds of the ministerial portfolios in any future unified government, controlling the ministries of defense, interior, foreign affairs, and finance, and assuming the chairmanship and management of the Central Bank, the National Oil Corporation, and the Investment Authority.
Key points of impact
Conversely, sharp disagreements emerged regarding the identity of sovereign leaders. Saddam Haftar rejected the Western camp’s conditions concerning the exclusion of figures close to him from key institutions. He maintained that the core of the dispute still revolves around “who leads” the state’s institutions during the transitional phase.
Bypassing traditional institutions
This meeting, held away from the public eye, reflects a shift in international strategy (Paris and Washington) towards bypassing traditional legislative bodies and engaging directly with “field actors.” Despite the progress made, questions remain about the sustainability of this “secret agreement” in the face of ambitions to share power, money, and oil wealth.
