University of Benghazi Reopens After 11 Years Following Major Reconstruction

The University of Benghazi has officially reopened all its faculties and facilities after more than 11 years of closure, following the completion of a comprehensive reconstruction and rehabilitation project led by the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund under its Director General, Engineer Belqasim Khalifa Haftar.

The reopening marks a significant milestone for Libya’s higher education sector, restoring one of the country’s most prominent academic institutions after extensive destruction sustained during the Libyan Armed Forces’ conflict with terrorist groups.

Three-Year Reconstruction Restores University Campus

The reconstruction project was completed within three years, with the university’s main campus transformed into an integrated academic city designed to meet the needs of current and future students.

The project covered the university’s main campus as well as the Faculties of Engineering, Arts, Law, Science and Languages. It also included the central library, academic and administrative buildings, service facilities and internal infrastructure.

The campus’s internal road network was upgraded, while lecture halls, laboratories and other university facilities were equipped according to modern standards.

University of Benghazi Reclaims Historic Role

Known as the “Mother of Libyan Universities,” the University of Benghazi is among Libya’s oldest and largest higher education institutions, with nearly 100,000 students.

The university has played a major role in Libya’s academic and institutional development, producing generations of scientists, academics, experts and public officials. It also provides free education to Libyan students.

The reopening therefore represents not only the restoration of physical infrastructure but also the return of university life to an institution closely connected with the history and collective memory of Benghazi.

New Student Residences and Modern Facilities

The rehabilitation programme also introduced modern student accommodation, with facilities described as offering standards comparable to five-star hotels.

The upgraded residences are intended to expand the university’s capacity to accommodate students from across Libya and internationally, while the modernised academic facilities are designed to provide an integrated environment for students, faculty members and administrative staff.

Reopening Ceremony Features Technology and Drone Display

The scale of the reopening was reflected in an inauguration ceremony combining technology, art and the university’s history.

The event featured 3D mapping, advanced visual effects and modern production technologies at a venue capable of accommodating more than 15,000 spectators.

The ceremony brought together prominent Libyan figures and university alumni from different generations, including Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and Engineer Belqasim Khalifa Haftar, Chairman of the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund.

Ambassadors, representatives of foreign companies, international delegations and around 240 international guests also attended the event.

A major highlight was an aerial drone performance featuring coordinated fleets operating through an integrated electronic system. The display culminated in three Guinness World Records for formations depicting an eagle, a quill writing “University of Benghazi” across the sky and the peace symbol.

Education Reconstruction Extends Beyond Benghazi

Alongside rebuilding the university, the Libyan Development and Reconstruction Fund has sent more than 1,000 University of Benghazi students abroad to continue their studies and specialise in their respective fields.

The initiative combines reconstruction of physical infrastructure with investment in human capital as part of a broader approach to sustainable development.

The Fund is currently implementing more than 2,300 projects across extensive areas of eastern and southern Libya, covering education, healthcare, housing, roads, infrastructure and public facilities.

Educational reconstruction efforts extend to universities and institutions in Kufra, Al Bayda and Derna, three colleges in Al Marj and the University of Ajdabiya. Maintenance and rehabilitation projects are also underway in Sirte, Brak al-Shati and Murzuq.

Approximately 250 schools across different regions have also been restored and rehabilitated.

The reopening of the University of Benghazi thus represents a broader effort to rebuild Libya’s educational infrastructure. After more than a decade of closure, the return of students and academic activity restores one of the country’s most important scientific and historic institutions to active university life.