Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Libya’s eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar discussed Libya’s political future, including the unification of state institutions and the holding of presidential and parliamentary elections, during a meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.

Sisi reiterated Egypt’s support for preserving Libya’s unity and territorial integrity and for efforts to unify its institutions, according to the Egyptian presidency. He also stressed the importance of holding parliamentary and presidential elections as part of efforts to advance Libya’s political process.

The meeting also covered ways to strengthen cooperation between Egypt and Libya, with Cairo saying it supports initiatives aimed at improving security, stability and development in Libya. Sisi described the relationship between the two countries as rooted in longstanding ties and stressed Egypt’s continued support for Libya’s stability.

Haftar, who commands forces based in eastern Libya, praised Egypt’s role in supporting what he described as peace, security and stability in the region, particularly in Libya. He also backed initiatives aimed at maintaining Libya’s unity and said he wanted continued coordination with Cairo over shared challenges and development efforts.

The meeting was attended by Khaled Haftar, chief of staff of the eastern Libyan forces; Belqasem Haftar, head of Libya’s reconstruction fund; and Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s General Intelligence Service.

Egypt has repeatedly called for Libya’s divided institutions to be unified and for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held. During a previous meeting with Haftar in June 2025, Sisi also called for a political roadmap leading to simultaneous elections and urged the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya.

The latest meeting comes as diplomatic engagement over Libya continues, with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan having met Haftar in Benghazi earlier this month during a visit that also included talks with senior officials in Tripoli.