Libya has launched formal preparations to host the fourth Turkey–Africa Partnership Summit, a move authorities say underscores the country’s ambition to reassert itself diplomatically and play a more active role in African and Mediterranean affairs after years of instability.
The foreign ministry said it convened the first meeting of a high-level preparatory committee this week to lay the groundwork for the continental gathering, which will bring together Turkish and African leaders to review cooperation and set new priorities for the partnership.
Officials described the summit as a landmark event in Turkey–Africa relations, offering a platform to assess progress since the third summit held in Istanbul in 2021 and to outline future areas of political, economic and security cooperation.
“The meeting defined the general framework for preparations and highlighted the political and diplomatic importance of the summit,” the ministry said in a statement, without specifying a date for the event.
The preparatory committee examined an initial proposal outlining its working mechanism, covering political, substantive and organisational aspects of the summit. Participants stressed the need for early and structured planning, as well as close coordination with Libyan state institutions and with regional and international partners.
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Foreign Minister Taher Al-Baour, who chaired the meeting, called for intensified collective efforts in the coming months to ensure the summit’s success and to maximise the benefits for Libya as host.
Hosting the Turkey–Africa Partnership Summit would mark one of the highest-profile international events organised by Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled longtime ruler Moamer Kadhafi and plunged the country into years of conflict and political fragmentation.
Although large-scale fighting has subsided since a UN-backed ceasefire in 2020, Libya remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with elections repeatedly delayed and foreign influence still deeply entrenched.
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Against that backdrop, analysts say the summit offers Tripoli an opportunity to project an image of relative stability and diplomatic engagement, while strengthening ties with Turkey, one of the most influential external actors in the country.
Turkey has been a key supporter of the UN-recognised authorities in Tripoli, providing military backing that helped repel an offensive by eastern-based forces in 2019–2020. Ankara has since expanded its economic, security and energy footprint in Libya, signing a series of agreements covering defence cooperation, reconstruction and maritime boundaries.
The Turkey–Africa Partnership Summit, launched in 2008, has become a central pillar of Ankara’s outreach to the continent. Turkey has sharply expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa over the past two decades, increasing the number of embassies, boosting trade and promoting cooperation in infrastructure, health, education and defence.
The first summit was held in Istanbul in 2008, followed by a second in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2014, and the third again in Istanbul in 2021. The meetings have aimed to deepen political dialogue and promote what Turkey describes as a “win-win” partnership with African states.
Officials involved in the Libyan preparations said the upcoming summit will review the outcomes and commitments made at the 2021 meeting, while identifying new areas of cooperation in light of shifting geopolitical and economic conditions.
These are expected to include trade and investment, energy, transport, security cooperation and development, as well as coordination on regional and global issues.
For Libya, hosting the summit could also provide economic dividends, from infrastructure investment to increased visibility for reconstruction opportunities in a country whose roads, airports and public services have suffered years of neglect and damage.
At the same time, the logistics and security demands of hosting dozens of delegations will pose a challenge for Libyan authorities, who are still working to unify institutions and assert control over armed groups.
The foreign ministry said the preparatory committee will continue to meet regularly to refine plans, engage with Turkish counterparts and coordinate with international partners to ensure the event meets diplomatic and organisational standards.
While political uncertainty persists at home, Libyan officials say the decision to host the summit reflects a determination to move beyond crisis management and toward a more proactive foreign policy.
If successful, the Turkey–Africa Partnership Summit could serve as both a diplomatic showcase and a test of Libya’s capacity to host major international events and of its broader bid to reclaim a role as a bridge between Africa, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
