Press Release: NCUSLR's 7th Annual Conference
The National Council on U.S. Libya Relations' 7th Annual Conference: “Libya’s De Facto Partition; What Does the Future Hold?”
Washington, D.C. April 9, 2025
The National Council on US-Libya Relations concluded a pivotal two-day event that brought together top Libyan and American experts to discuss the urgent political, economic, and security challenges facing Libya, and offer pathways forward.
In partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Libya, the first day focused on economic cooperation, gathering Libya and U.S. business leaders to explore ways to expand trade and investment, and health sector reform.
On the second day, The National Council on US-Libya Relations hosted its 7th annual conference, a high-level dialogue addressing Libya’s political divisions, institutional gridlock, and growing instability. The event gathered prominent political actors from across Libya, including Tripoli-based Khaled Al Mishri, Chair of the High Council of State, and Fazzan-based Musa al Koni, Vice President of the Presidential Council. Though Ageelah Saleh, Chair of the House of Representatives, accepted our invitation, he did not attend.
Al-Mishri and Al Koni joined over 20 speakers and internationally recognized experts from across Libya, who engaged in candid and dynamic panel sessions, as well as open dialogue with the audience through Q&A, leading to critical insights for breaking the political deadlock.
The discussions highlighted the critical divisions that threaten the unity of Libya and its institutions, including the Central Bank and the National Oil Corporation, as well as issues of illegal immigration, smuggling, and the failure of political processes. They stressed how the division between Libya's two governments is undermining Central Bank governance, with unchecked spending on both sides risking economic collapse and further currency depreciation. Among the solutions offered was a proposal for transitioning to a federal system, with presidential and parliamentary elections held separately in Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and Fezzan, as a possible pathway to exit the current deadlock.
The conference aired urgent, concrete recommendations to break the dangerous standoff in Libya and finally move polarized actors towards a near-term breakthrough. A repeated theme was that “'Libya cannot and must not be divided.”
Opinions expressed during the conference do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council or its personal representation.
The National Council on US Libya Relations is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Council's mission is to strengthen U.S. engagement in Libya for a successful democratic transition and effective state-building by providing timely and accurate information on relevant political, cultural, and economic aspects of Libya.
For more information please contact us at: contact@ncuslr.org
The full conference live-stream is available online through our YouTube and Facebook Pages.
Naaman Al-Bouri, Tadawul Group Co-Founder on the left, followed by Mohammed Al Raied, Libyan Union of Chambers of Commerce President, Husni Bey, HB Group Chair, and Mohammed Alaneezi – General Manager at Burniq Tractors Company, engaging in panel discussion titled: Doing Business in Libya, part of the US-Libya Business event co-organized with the American Chamber of Commerce in Libya.
US Ambassador. Richard Norland delivering the keynote speech.
Moderator Dr. Hani Shennib on the left, followed by Libyan Presidential Council Vice-President Musa Al koni, US Amb. Richard Norland, and Libyan High Council of State Chair Khalid Al Mishri, engaging in panel discussion.
Moin Kikhia, Founder of Libyan Democratic Institute, delivers speech titled: “Is there hope after multiple procastrated/failed political processes?” Part of the first panel titled: “Implications of a Persistent Prolonged Libyan Division”
Husni Bey, HB Group Chairman, delivers speech titled: Libya is predicted to have one of fastest economic growth in the region; how is that? Part of the second panel titled: “Economic Growth & Prosperity in a Divided Country”.
