Summary:

On 15 April 2025, Belgassem Khalifa Haftar, Director General of the eastern-based Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signed contracts with Turkish companies Libco Insaat and Cevahir Yapi for work on development projects in four Libyan cities.  

The deals aim to launch projects including infrastructure development, construction and road maintenance, and public hospitals in the cities of Benghazi, Beida, Shahat and Tobruk.  

The deals come two weeks after Saddam Haftar’s visit to Turkey where he attended meetings with the Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu in Ankara.  

Meanwhile, Tripoli hosted a Libyan French Business Forum on 16 April, including several sessions on economic and trade cooperation and ways to overcome obstacles to economic opportunities.  

Outlook: 

The deals signed between Turkish companies and eastern Libyan officials point to Turkey’s efforts to maintain influence and open doors for opportunity with both Libyan governments. Turkey will most likely continue seeking interests in the east while maintaining its support for the Tripoli-based government. 

Similarly, France’s organization of a second business forum in Tripoli after organizing a first forum in Benghazi in November 2024 points to an effort to balance support and influence between the two rival governments as Libya’s political future continues to take shape. 

As economic challenges have persisted, both Libyan governments will continue to position themselves as open to investments that will allow them to court domestic popularity.  

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