Benghazi – Monday, 15 June 2026
The Second General Conference of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council commenced today, Monday, in the city of Benghazi, with broad participation from the parliaments and legislative councils of the member states from the continents of Asia and Africa.
The opening session was attended by a number of members of the Libyan House of Representatives, representatives of the African Parliament, the African Parliamentary Union, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean, and the International Federation of Asia and Africa Trade Unions, in addition to several ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Libya, and representatives of regional and international organizations.
The Secretary-General of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, Mr. Fayez Al-Shawabkeh, officially declared the conference open, during which the agenda was adopted.
The Second Deputy Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Mr. Misbah Douma, a member of the Presidential Board of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, delivered a welcoming address to the participating delegations, conveying the greetings of the Presidency and members of the House of Representatives and emphasizing the deep historical ties and shared destiny uniting the peoples of Asia and Africa.
For his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Counselor Aguila Saleh, in his capacity as President of the Conference, delivered the opening address, expressing his pride in Libya’s hosting of this international parliamentary event.
He affirmed that the city of Benghazi, which he described as the city of struggle, peace, and reconstruction, is today hosting a new milestone in the course of parliamentary cooperation between Asia and Africa.
Counselor Aguila Saleh pointed out that holding the conference in Benghazi carries significant political and institutional implications and sends a clear message to the international community that Libya has regained its security, stability, and regional and international standing thanks to the determination of its people and the efforts of its national institutions and armed forces. He noted that the city has overcome the challenges of terrorism and extremism and has entered a phase of construction, development, and reconstruction.
The First Vice-President of the Asian Parliamentary Council, Mr. Saud Rashid Al-Hajilan, also delivered a speech on the occasion. In addition, the Vice-President of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council for Africa, Mr. Sidney Soukhona, First Vice-President of the National Assembly of Mauritania, delivered remarks stressing the importance of strengthening parliamentary cooperation between the countries of the two continents.
The session also included a visual presentation reviewing the history and objectives of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, in addition to an introductory presentation highlighting the city of Benghazi and its ongoing development projects and urban renaissance.
During the conference, consensus was reached on the selection of the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives, Counselor Aguila Saleh, as President of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, a step reflecting the confidence enjoyed by the Libyan House of Representatives and its role in supporting joint parliamentary action at both the regional and international levels.
This selection represents recognition of the efforts exerted by the Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives in promoting parliamentary cooperation and supporting dialogue and coordination among parliaments, thereby contributing to the unification of positions on issues of common interest. It also reflects the growing stature that Libya and its legislative institutions have attained in regional and international parliamentary forums.
The first day of the conference concluded with a commemorative group photograph bringing together the Speaker of the House of Representatives, several members of the House, the Head of the House of Representatives Administration, and the heads and members of the participating delegations.
The Second General Conference of the Asian-African Parliamentary Council, hosted by the city of Benghazi, will continue over the course of two days.
