U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), visited Libya on August 27-29, 2024, to enhance cooperation between the United States and Libya.
Accompanied by U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy Berndt, USAID Senior Development Advisor Maura Barry-Boyle, and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Michael Woods, Langley met with key Libyan leaders across the nation.
In Tripoli, Gen. Langley and Berndt engaged with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dabaiba, President of the Presidential Council Mohamed Menfi, and Gen. Mohamed al-Haddad, Chief of the General Staff of the Libyan Armed Forces.
They discussed strategies to unify Libya’s military forces and secure the country’s sovereignty. In Benghazi, Langley met with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), and other senior LNA officials.
This visit follows Langley’s previous meetings with Libyan military leaders at the African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana in June, where regional security and stability were key topics.
Langley emphasized the importance of unity for Libya’s strength, stating, “The United States stands ready to reinforce existing bonds and forge new partnerships with those who champion democracy, in pursuit of a safer, more prosperous Libya.”
Prime Minister Dabaiba, President Menfi, and Field Marshal Haftar expressed a strong desire to expand security engagement with the U.S., aligning with AFRICOM’s “3D” approach—diplomacy, defense, and development—to strengthen Libyan institutions, promote political reconciliation, and respond to humanitarian needs.
Since 2011, the U.S. has provided over $900 million in assistance to Libya, with nearly $275 million allocated for humanitarian aid.
