Al-Bayda – Thursday, April 23, 2026 As part of efforts to strengthen integration between academic institutions and state bodies, and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Libyan Government, the University of Sayyid Muhammad bin Ali Al-Senussi Islamic University in Al-Bayda hosted the fifth Political Salon, organized by the Ministry under the theme: “The Role of Scientific Institutions in Developing Societal Awareness and Political Participation.” The event featured two academic papers addressing key themes related to promoting political culture and strengthening state-building concepts. Dr. Mohammed Al-Aqouri, Undersecretary for Scientific Affairs at the Libyan Academy (Benghazi branch), presented a paper on the role of political participation in enhancing societal awareness, emphasizing the strong link between citizens’ awareness and the stability of state institutions. Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Salam Al-Khazali, a faculty member at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Political Science, discussed in his paper the impact of political participation on the electoral process, highlighting its role in ensuring the success of democratic processes and reinforcing the institutional path. The discussion session was moderated by Dr. Suleiman Al-Mazini, Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and witnessed distinguished attendance from academics, students, ministry staff, and representatives of civil society organizations—reflecting the growing interest in issues of awareness and political participation. The event was also marked by active engagement from attendees, who contributed valuable interventions emphasizing the importance of academic institutions in spreading awareness and promoting participation values, in line with the transformations taking place in Libya at various levels. At the conclusion of the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation honored the university’s leadership and staff in appreciation of their cooperation in making this dialogue platform a success, further reinforcing the university’s role as an active partner in supporting national awareness and state-building efforts.