Trump Africa adviser defends US-backed Libya power-share, warns against Sudan repeat

At a journalist at one outlet 3 Billion forum in New York, Massad Boulos, senior Africa adviser to Donald Trump and father-in-law of one of Trump’s sons-in-law, defended a US-facilitated Libyan political arrangement, calling it an “absolute partnership” rather than a dictatorship. He said the plan would install Saddam Haftar, son of General Khalifa Haftar, as president while keeping Abdul Hamid Dbeibah as prime minister, with the goal of unifying Libya’s institutions ahead of UN-brokered elections.

Critics have labeled the scheme an “elite bargain” that could jeopardize free elections. Boulos declined to comment on a reported US-linked visa restriction on Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, explaining Washington works with both warring factions in Sudan without formally recognizing the army-led government and opposes any parallel authorities. He warned against a repeat of the Libyan scenario in Sudan, describing the Sudan conflict as the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe, with roughly 35 million people needing aid, and noted US assistance totals about $3 billion since the fighting started in April 2023.