A US delegation has proposed the creation of a joint Libyan military-security force, uniting personnel from the country's east and west, according to a military source close to Libya's 5+5 Joint Military Committee. The force is expected to begin taking shape by March.
The plan, discussed in both Tripoli and Benghazi, was recently detailed by AFRICOM officials during a visit to the committee's headquarters in Sirte. The phased proposal calls for the selection of four officers—two from each region—to lead the force, with one appointed as commander. The remaining officers will oversee training, mobilisation, and operational tasks.
The force will focus on border security and the protection of vital infrastructure, with advanced military training provided both domestically and abroad.
Initial training is set to take place at the 111th Brigade camp in Tripoli, where the joint command and AFRICOM trainers will be based. The training will include tactical drills and the use of advanced security systems for monitoring and preventing border breaches.
The US proposal explicitly avoids addressing Libya's Russian military presence, focusing instead on counterterrorism, organised crime, human trafficking, and securing energy facilities.
AFRICOM’s Director of Intelligence, Brigadier General Matthew Brennan, led the US delegation, meeting with key Libyan figures, including Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli and Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi.
Brennan described the visit as a “major step” towards enhancing cooperation with Libyan military leaders, aimed at supporting national unification and addressing regional security challenges.
