One month after what may have been the most significant diplomatic mission to Libya since taking charge of the country, US envoy Massad Boulos continues to raise questions about Washington’s objectives.
Earlier this month, the senior adviser to Donald Trump on Arab and Middle Eastern Affairs met dozens of Libyan officials across the country's rival factions during a diplomatic tour that was widely expected to pave the way for major announcements.
After meeting with their inner circles in Malta on 6 July, Boulos held face-to-face talks with Libya's rival leaders: Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli on 7 July, and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in Benghazi the following day.
Notably, the US president’s envoy also met numerous powerful actors not aligned with either camp, such as Central Bank of Libya governor Naji Issa and members of the Council of Elders in the influential western city of Misrata.
Yet, no clear roadmap has emerged for what the US diplomat repeatedly described as "unification efforts" during his visit, a plan now referred to as the "Boulos initiative".
