The Aporia · Trump’s Africa adviser defends proposed Libyan deal: ‘Absolute partnership’

Massad Boulos, Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser and father-in-law to one of Trump’s sons-in-law, defended a proposed deal for Libya that would involve power-sharing between Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and the son of General Khalifa Haftar. Speaking at an event in New York, Boulos dismissed criticisms that the plan could lead to dictatorship or undermine democratic processes, insisting it aims to unify Libyan institutions before UN elections. Additionally, Boulos addressed unconfirmed reports about US actions affecting Sudanese military leadership and emphasized the need for a ceasefire to address the ongoing civil war's humanitarian crisis.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser and father of one of Trump’s sons-in-law, defended a proposed Libyan deal at Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion event in New York. Critics have alleged that the plan would give too much power to General Khalifa Haftar's son, Saddam Haftar, who could become president while Abdul Hamid Dbeibah remains prime minister. Boulos insisted this is not a dictatorship and emphasized it is an "absolute partnership" aimed at unifying Libya’s institutions before UN-brokered elections.

Boulos also addressed the US stance on Sudan, where the army-led government is being treated as a de facto authority without official recognition. He stated that the U.S. remains totally against any parallel governments and is engaging with both warring parties in Sudan. Regarding Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s visa to attend the UN General Assembly, Boulos neither confirmed nor denied reports suggesting it was contingent on signing a 90-day ceasefire to halt Sudan’s three-year civil war.

Written for “Libya Deal Debate” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Boulos said the US is engaging with “both warring parties,” dealing with Sudan’s army-led government as a de facto authority without officially recognizing it while remaining “totally against any parallel governments.”

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-23

2026-09-23 · Semafor

Trump’s Africa adviser defends proposed Libyan deal: ‘Absolute partnership’ · assertive framing

Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump’s senior Africa adviser and the father of one of Trump’s sons-in-law, on Tuesday pushed back on claims that a US plan for Libya would hand control of the country to a powerful military commander and his family. uncertain

plan → push → commander

“It’s not a dictatorship in any way,” Boulos said at Semafor’s The Next 3 Billion event in New York. asserted

Boulos → ’ → York

It’s going to be an absolute partnership.” asserted

It → go → ?

Reports suggest there’s a power-sharing deal in the works under which Saddam Haftar — son of General Khalifa Haftar — would serve as president while Abdul Hamid Dbeibah would remain prime minister. asserted

Dbeibah → suggest → president

Critics have called it an “elite bargain” that could backfire and undermine progress towards free elections. uncertain

that → call → elections

Boulos said the process, which the US and partners are facilitating, aims to unify Libya before UN-brokered elections. asserted

US → say → elections

“It’s all about unifying the institutions,” he said. asserted

he → ’ → institutions

Separately, Boulos declined to confirm or deny that Washington withheld a UN General Assembly visa for Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. asserted

Washington → decline → Burhan

Reuters reported Tuesday that Burhan’s visa was made contingent on his signing a US-backed 90-day ceasefire to pause the nation’s three-year civil war, which he rejected. asserted

he → report → which

US → say → governments

“You don’t want the Libyan scenario repeating itself in Sudan,” he said. asserted

he → want → Sudan

He called the war “the single largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world today,” noting that nearly 35 million Sudanese are in need of aid. asserted

Sudanese → call → aid

He said the US has contributed about $3 billion in aid since fighting began in April 2023. asserted

fighting → say → April

Trump’s Africa adviser defends proposed Libyan deal: ‘Absolute partnership’

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