Libya’s Tripoli based government reported today that its Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs, Walid Al-Lafi, presented its vision for advancing the political process, ending division, and reaching elections.
This took place during a panel discussion organized by the Atlantic Council and the Centre for American Studies in Rome, Italy, yesterday, with the participation of American and Italian officials, as well as international experts and researchers.
The session, titled "Libya at a Crossroads: Sequencing Steps for Institutional Unification, the Budget, and Elections," focused on the Libyan political track and the requirements necessary to ensure that transitional arrangements lead to credible elections and the renewal of political legitimacy.
Al-Lafi spoke during the main session alongside Maurizio Greganti, Deputy Director General for Political and Security Affairs at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussion was moderated by Karim Mezran, Director of the North Africa Initiative at the Atlantic Council.
The American delegation included officials from the Departments of the Treasury and Energy, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, as well as researchers and specialists from the U.S. Congress and the Department of State.
The discussions covered the UN-led roadmap, U.S. efforts, and opportunities to support a political settlement. They also addressed the financial, institutional, and security arrangements required to unify state institutions and mitigate the consequences of national division and parallel government spending.
Furthermore, the session explored the guarantees needed to establish a clear timeframe for any transitional phase, the creation of a credible constitutional basis for elections, and the role of international partners in coordinating their support—all while ensuring that the political process remains Libyan-led and Libyan-owned, and fostering confidence in its outcomes.
The Atlantic Council is an American think tank based in Washington that focuses on international affairs, foreign policy, security, and economics; meanwhile, the Center for American Studies in Rome concerns itself with Italian-American relations and the promotion of transatlantic dialogue, hosting meetings that bring together policymakers, diplomats, and researchers.