General Michael Langley, commander of Africom, backs the Libyan National Army and says that national reunification will have to come from the Libyans themselves
General Michael Langley, commander of Africom, affirms that the United States will continue to support efforts to help Libya build a unified, professional and civilian-controlled army capable of guaranteeing the country’s sovereignty, border security and the fight against illegal migration and cross-border terrorism.
In a hearing before the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Langley emphasized that “fragmentation between security actors in eastern and western Libya continues to hinder national development and stability.” A situation, he added, that “sometimes also shakes global energy markets.”
According to the general, “national reunification will have to come from the Libyans themselves,” but AFRICOM intends to contribute “with limited and specific steps” to creating favorable conditions to support US strategic interests, including through forms of multilateral integration in the security sector.
Langley emphasized that Africom’s mission in Africa remains focused on protecting the United States from emerging threats, as well as safeguarding its supply lines and alliances in the region.
In this perspective, Libya, due to its geographical position and resources, represents a central point of attention.
AFRICOM is concerned about the presence of external actors in the country – including Russia and, increasingly, China and Turkey – and believes that Libyan instability provides fertile ground for the strengthening of terrorist networks and illicit trafficking, from human trafficking to arms and drug smuggling.
In his speech, Langley also highlighted the strategic importance of North Africa in the context of US interests. In particular, he praised the cooperation with two “key non-NATO allies”: Morocco and Tunisia.
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Morocco, he explained, plays a crucial role in the stability of the African continent, offering military training to more than 1,200 African partners each year, at no cost to the participants.
Tunisia, for its part, is emerging as “a growing regional center for military training,” actively supporting peacekeeping operations on the continent, thanks also to its fleet of C-130 strategic transport aircraft.
Langley also highlighted the role of the Tunisian Demining School, whose experience in the fight against terrorism is now in high demand by United Nations peacekeeping missions in West Africa and the Sahel.
On the Algerian front, Langley acknowledged the progress of the defense sector, highlighting in particular the growth in direct sales of military systems, including transport aircraft such as the C-130. In January 2025, the United States and Algeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Military Cooperation, aimed at strengthening bilateral strategic dialogue and regional stability.
In the case of Libya, Africom continues to support a process aimed at unifying the armed forces under the authority of a civilian government. Langley recalled that the persistence of armed militias outside of a centralized command is a fundamental obstacle to the return of constitutional order and the achievement of lasting peace.
The general also referred to the need to integrate the various existing armed groups, including those active in Cyrenaica under the control of General Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) – into a national force that respects the chain of command and international standards.
Langley reiterated that “a unified, professionalized and disciplined army represents the fundamental pillar for a sovereign, secure and stable Libya.”
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