UK Delegation Visits Benghazi for Talks on Stability, Academia, and Investment
Libya – Benghazi hosted a series of meetings and site visits on 15–16 February 2026 by a high-level UK delegation led by Daniel Kawczynski, President of the Libyan-British Development Association (LBDA) and a former Member of the UK Parliament. According to the Benghazi Peace Center’s media office, the visit coincided with the launch events of the “Khalifa Charity Foundation,” which invited the delegation, while the “Al-Raya Media Group” coordinated the program.
Delegation Composition
Statements issued by host institutions said the delegation included Daniel Kawczynski; Mark Field, a former UK MP and former Minister of State; Tristan Peniston-Bird, a UK strategic communications and public affairs specialist; Peter Mayer, President of the Middle East Association in the UK and a government affairs adviser; and Femi Pillay, a businessman and UK–Africa relations expert.
Benghazi Municipality: Focus on Stability and Elections
The elected Mayor of Benghazi received the delegation at his office, welcoming closer international cooperation in support of the city’s stability and development, according to the municipality’s media office. The meeting discussed Benghazi’s current stability, which officials said enabled successful municipal elections, presenting the vote as evidence that elections in Libya are achievable when a secure and stable environment is in place. The municipality’s statement also highlighted the role of the Libyan National Army in supporting security and consolidating stability, which it said helps create conditions for institutions to function and for reconstruction to advance.
In a post on his official account, Kawczynski said stability in Benghazi was “notable,” and argued that successful municipal elections demonstrate that democratic processes in Libya are possible when security conditions exist. He added that maintaining order had been essential to institutional progress and reconstruction.
Peace Center and Omar Al-Mukhtar Mausoleum: Historical and Security Briefings
The Benghazi Peace Center said it received the UK delegation on Sunday, 15 February 2026, with the center’s director-general, Faraj Najm, welcoming the visitors. The program included a visit to the Omar Al-Mukhtar mausoleum, where the delegation laid a wreath and received an overview of Al-Mukhtar’s biography and his companions. The delegation also toured the mausoleum’s cultural center, where discussions covered fascist-era detention sites, Libya’s participation in World War II, and briefings on the Libyan National Army’s war against ISIS, which the center said included Benghazi’s most intense episodes. The visitors viewed rare photographs and historical items, signed the guestbook, and received printed publications as commemorative gifts.
University of Benghazi: Academic and Research Cooperation
The University of Benghazi announced that its president, Ezzedine Al-Dersi, received a high-level UK delegation in the presence of the university’s vice president for community service and environment, Yahya Lamloum, within the framework of strengthening academic and research cooperation, as stated in the university’s posted notice.
Julyana Free Zone: Investment Outreach and Port Readiness
According to a report published on 16 February 2026 by Al-Anbaa Al-Libya (WAL), the Director-General of the Julyana Free Zone, Ahmed Al-Amami, received the UK delegation during an official visit aimed at boosting economic and investment cooperation and reviewing the latest developments at the free zone. The report said the delegation was briefed on recent upgrades, including infrastructure modernization and improved readiness of port facilities. A documentary presentation outlined the free zone’s capabilities and logistics services supporting trade and investment. The delegation later toured the port with the free zone administration to observe operational facilities and workflow, while stressing the importance of expanding cooperation and investment to support regional economic development. The free zone also published a similar account of the visit, including the documentary presentation and the field tour.
House of Representatives: Development, Capacity Building, and Reconstruction
The House of Representatives’ office in Benghazi stated that Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee Chair Youssef Al-Aqouri; Oversight Bodies Follow-up Committee Chair Zayed Hadiya; Deputy Chair of the Education Committee Sultana Al-Mismari; and Foreign Affairs Committee member Al-Saleheen Abdul-Nabi met the LBDA delegation on Monday, 16 February 2026. The statement said the meeting discussed enhancing cooperation with the association and supporting development programs, capacity building, and the advancement of education, investment, and reconstruction.
The HoR statement described the area as experiencing tangible stability, attributing this to the efforts of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces under Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in securing cities and areas and supporting reconstruction and development, which it said allowed projects and essential services to resume and strengthened confidence among citizens and investors. The statement also underscored the HoR’s role in providing a supportive legislative framework and facilitating legal and administrative procedures to enable development and reconstruction programs to be implemented efficiently. It added that the delegation praised what it described as significant progress in Benghazi’s reconstruction, development, and stability, and affirmed continued support for development initiatives across various sectors.
