Belqasem Khalifa Haftar, Director of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund, recently visited Washington, D.C., following an invitation from the U.S. State Department. The purpose of his visit was to engage with U.S. officials and coordinate efforts related to the reconstruction of Libya.
In an exclusive interview with the U.S. news outlet Alhurra, Haftar discussed the progress of reconstruction efforts, particularly in the city of Derna and other areas impacted by last year’s floods. He explained that half of Derna was destroyed, but significant progress has been made: “The destroyed valley has been rebuilt, hospitals that had been deteriorating for years have been restored, and schools, infrastructure, and power grids have been repaired.”
Haftar highlighted that residents in Derna have long suffered from a lack of basic services, noting that healthcare, education, and electricity infrastructure were in a dire state. He stressed the importance of transparency within the Reconstruction Fund, stating that “transparency is ensured through monitoring and auditing departments, and all contracts are legal and publicly disclosed.”
He further emphasized that the Reconstruction Fund aims to rebuild the entire country, with a focus on southern cities like Sabha and Kufra, which have suffered from “deliberate neglect” by successive governments.
Haftar noted that there is widespread agreement between Libya’s eastern and western regions on the importance of reconstruction, adding that “the Libyan people have witnessed significant progress across all sectors recently.”
While denying any current deals with Russia or China, Haftar acknowledged that “countries from around the world have approached Libya to discuss potential partnerships in reconstruction, as Libya needs major companies capable of handling large-scale projects across all sectors. We are open to cooperation with any country that has the expertise and capability.”
He also mentioned recent discussions with Turkey to coordinate bilateral cooperation on reconstruction.
