Backing Libya Unity: Saudi Arabia Supports Pakistani Bid to Bridge Divisions
Saudi Arabia has emerged as a strong backer of Pakistan’s mediation efforts to bridge divisions between rival eastern and western administrations in Libya and bring stability to the North African country.
State of Play: According to Reuters, citing two Pakistani sources, Saudi Arabia, alongside the US, Qatar and Türkiye, supports mediation efforts launched by Pakistan last year, at the request of both Libyan sides, to reunify Libya.
Libya Reunification Bid
What’s New: Discussions involve a proposed “Libya Reunification Plan” which outlines a 36-month transitional power-sharing framework under a body called the Government of National Consensus and Presidential Council to unify the country’s governance.
The Impact: Under this proposal, shared with Reuters, the head of the Tripoli-based government, Abdulhamid Dbeibah, will serve as Prime Minister, while the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Benghazi-aligned Libyan National Army (LNA), Saddam Haftar, will assume the chairmanship of the Presidential Council.
While the proposal’s details are still under discussion, one of the Pakistani sources said that Islamabad will play “an active role in making sure this whole arrangement stays in play.”
The Backstory: Pakistan has elevated its status as a trusted mediator given its role in brokering the recently signed preliminary deal between the US and Iran.
Saudi Commitment to Stability
Riyadh has been a strong advocate for Libyan unity and stability, supporting a political settlement that safeguards the country’s sovereignty and national interests.
The Context: In late June 2026, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan joined a quadrilateral meeting in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, and Senior Advisor to the US President for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos.
The meeting focused on discussing the most pressing regional issues, most notably Sudan and Libya and efforts made toward establishing security and stability in the two countries.
With regard to Libya, the four officials stressed the need for supporting efforts aimed at preserving the North African country’s unity, respecting its sovereignty, advancing the political process and unifying the country’s state institutions.
Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat also discussed the Libyan issue during a bilateral meeting with his Egyptian counterpart and later in a trilateral meeting with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Türkiye.
