Algeria calls for Libyan-led solution to political crisis

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has renewed his call for a domestic solution to Libya’s long-running political crisis, warning that foreign interference has only prolonged instability and deepened divisions, as reported by the Libya Review on December 31. Speaking before Algeria’s parliament, Tebboune said the conflict remains unresolved more than 14 years after it began, continuing to destabilise Libya and weigh heavily on the wider region.

Describing Libya’s situation as a “deep open wound,” Tebboune pointed to the political paralysis and humanitarian crisis that have persisted despite repeated international initiatives. He argued that years of external involvement have failed to deliver peace, instead entrenching rivalries and fragmenting Libya’s political institutions. According to Tebboune, imposed frameworks and competing foreign agendas have weakened Libya’s sovereignty and obstructed meaningful reconciliation among Libyans.

The call for an end to foreign interference in Libya by Tebboune reflects similar statements that have recently been made by other senior members of his government. In his address to the United Nations General assembly, Ahmed Attaf, the Algerian Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, stated that Libya “remains trapped in divisions that are fuelled, nurtured and exploited by foreign interventions, according to plans that bear no relation to the well-being, security or stability of Libya”.

The Algerian president stressed that a durable settlement can only emerge through an inclusive political dialogue driven by Libyans themselves. He said such a process must lead to fair, transparent, and representative elections capable of restoring legitimacy to Libya’s governing institutions.

Tebboune rejected the idea that stability can be achieved through external pressure or foreign-backed arrangements, insisting that political legitimacy cannot be imported. “The solution in Libya can only be Libyan–Libyan,” he said, adding that sidelining Libyans from decisions about their future is bound to fail.

Addressing suspicions about Algeria’s role, Tebboune emphasized that his country has no ambitions related to Libya’s natural resources or wealth. He said Algeria’s position is rooted in long-standing principles of non-interference, respect for national sovereignty, and support for regional stability.

Tebboune also drew attention to the wider consequences of Libya’s prolonged instability, noting that the conflict has fuelled cross-border threats, including terrorism, arms trafficking, and irregular migration. He argued that restoring stability in Libya would significantly improve security conditions across the wider region.

Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s readiness to support any sincere Libyan-led initiative aimed at reconciliation and national unity. He said peace in Libya is not only essential for Libyans themselves but critical for regional stability, concluding that lasting progress will remain elusive if foreign interference continues and Libyans are denied ownership of their political process.

Libya Review, Maghrebi.org