US Advisor Masad Boulos Proposes Unified Libyan Government Centered on Oil

Masad Boulos, advisor to US President Donald Trump on Arab and African affairs, is working to mediate a power-sharing agreement between Libya’s rival governments in the east and west, according to the Financial Times on Wednesday.

In an interview with the newspaper, Boulos stated, "Our plan is to have a unified government and to unify all institutions," while encouraging American oil companies to invest in Libya. He indicated that political stability would unlock significant economic opportunities.

The Trump administration’s efforts in Libya aim to transform the fragile ceasefire established since the 2020 truce into a genuine oil production surge.

According to a Bloomberg report, Washington is betting that military cooperation between the competing factions could open new avenues for crude oil supplies, despite ongoing threats from armed groups, foreign forces, and persistent disputes over revenue distribution.

The agency noted that forces from the eastern and western camps, previously adversaries in a civil war, trained together for the first time on Libyan soil under US supervision in April.

This development marks the latest in Washington’s attempts to unify Libya’s divided government, with these efforts taking on a more commercial character during President Trump’s tenure.

The primary focus is Libya’s oil sector, which holds Africa’s largest reserves, with fields located near European markets.

US officials assert that the oil industry could attract substantial American investment and significantly boost supplies if unification efforts succeed.

In January, during a visit to Tripoli, Masad Boulos outlined the US approach, stating that American companies "are betting on Libya’s future," and that joint military exercises in Sirte will help safeguard the country’s sovereignty and economy.

This US initiative comes as the Trump administration seeks to strengthen cooperation with both competing Libyan sides, prioritizing economic and oil-related engagement as a key path toward political stability.