Trump envoy to meet rival Libya governments as part of Maghreb tour

US President Donald Trump's special adviser Massad Boulos is due to visit Libya on Wednesday, where he will meet with leaders from the country's two rival governments in a move interpreted as Washington's willingness to engage with both sides.

Boulos is expected to arrive in the Libyan capital Tripoli, where the country's internationally-recognised government is based.

He will meet with Presidential Council Chairman Mohammed Menfi and Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, sources told The New Arab’s sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

He will also travel to Benghazi and meet with General Khalifa Haftar, the de facto ruler of eastern Libya.

The visit is part of a wider North Africa tour where Boulos is due to visit Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria as well.

The sources said the focus of Boulous’ visit to the North African country will be the ongoing political stalemate that has divided Libya since disputed elections in 2014 and Haftar's launch of "Operation Dignity" against rival militias in the same year.

Boulos will likely call for new elections to take place. These have been indefinitely postposed since 2018.

The Trump aide will also discuss Libya’s oil production, which was seen disruptions for over a decade, amid continued conflict and division in the country.

The US will also likely bring up concerns over Haftar’s increasingly close military ties with Russia, and other matters concerning foreign relations.

The visit comes after the UN Security Council presented a roadmap earlier this year in a bid to help end the country's transitional processes amid the continued rivalry between Dbeibah and Haftar-allied authorities in the east, as well as the frequent armed clashes that take place as a result.

Boulos’ visit also takes place amid growing worries in the North African country over Trump's presidency and its consequences for Libya. In May, a US judge temporarily blocked Trump's plans to deport migrants to Libya. The US president also issued a new travel ban last month impacting 36 countries, which included the North African country.

Further Maghreb engagement

Boulos had already arrived in Tunisia on Tuesday as part of his planned tour of the Maghreb region.

Local media said that the adviser was expected to meet with President Kais Saied, who has been criticised for his suppression of democracy in the country, and Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti.

In a statement on X, Boulos, who is also Trump's senior adviser for Africa, said he was "pleased" to visit Tunisia as Washington and Tunis "mark 200 years of friendship".

"Looking forward to discussing cooperation in our mutual interests to achieve a more peaceful and prosperous region," he added.

The visit comes amid US ambitions to polish its engagement in both the Maghreb and the Sahel region of Africa, where security and economic challenges are on the rise. The US stressed that it aims to focus on "trade rather than aid".

The tour also aims to lay the groundwork for future peace initiatives, following months of quiet diplomatic engagement with key players in the region, sources told The Geopolitical Desk.

Boulos is reportedly expected to discuss the disputed Western Sahara region - a major source of tension between Morocco and Algeria, as well as irregular migration. He is due to stop in both Algiers and Rabat.

North Africa is a major transition point for migrants from the continent seeking to reach European shores, due to Africa’s proximity to the EU.

European leaders have struck several deals with North African nations to curb migration, with the topic becoming a major source of tenson between the two continents.

Boulos’ comes just days after Trump met with five African presidents, including the President of Mauritania, as well as the US' new tariffs imposed on several Maghreb countries.