Ali Al-Ghazali, Head of the Passports Department in Tobruk, called for visa fees to be imposed on Egyptian nationals, on the principle of reciprocity.
Al-Ghazali said in a correspondence addressed to both the Head of the Steering Council of Tobruk, and the Commander of the military region that “Libyan citizens, while travelling to Egypt through the Salloum land port, were subjected to ill-treatment.”
He added that Egypt has complicated procedures and forced an exorbitant entry fee of 350 Egyptian pounds ($25 dollars), on all arrivals and departures through the Salloum border.
“Libyan citizens are forced to wait in the hall designated for stamping passports for long hours. The hall lacks the simplest facilities such as chairs or even a toilet,” he noted.
Egypt and Libya enjoy strong diplomatic relations. Cairo has repeatedly shown its support for resolving the crisis in the country.
Last year, Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, and a high-level ministerial delegation visited Tripoli. The delegation included Ministers of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Manpower, Trade and Industry, and a number of investors.
Madbouly met with Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GNU), Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
In February 2021, Dbaiba met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi in Cairo. They discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, with Madbouly, and Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence, Abbas Kamel attending the meeting.
Egyptian President El-Sisi affirmed that Libya’s stability is an integral part of Egypt’s national security.