On Monday, the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Al-Mnifi held talks with the US Ambassador and Special Envoy to Libya, Richard Norland and the US Chargé d’Affairs in Libya, Leslie Ordeman. They discussed a variety of political, economic, and security issues of common concern, as well as ways to secure elections this year.
The meeting touched on the need to “strengthen the national reconciliation project, establish a joint military force to secure the southern borders, and establish national mechanisms to organize public spending priorities and ensure that all Libyan people benefit from oil revenues.”
Ambassador Norland visited Chad on Friday, meeting with President Mahamat Déby.
The Chadian Presidency stated that the Ambassador’s visit “came as part of Washington’s promises to support Libya’s efforts to establish peace, and turn the page on the war that impeded the development process.”
It added that “completing the formation of a broad-based Libyan government that can meet the needs of the Libyan people is a goal, supported by the US, which cannot be achieved without taking into account the proposals of Libya’s neighbouring countries.”
The meeting focused on supporting the United Nations roadmap for holding Presidential and legislative elections in Libya by the end of the year. During the talks, Norland expressed concern about the continuing violence in Sudan, which could undermine efforts to restore peace in Libya.
The statement concluded that the continuation of wars in neighbouring countries negatively affects development goals in Chad and destabilises security and stability.
Earlier, Norland held talks with Mohamed A. Ib Almadani, Libya’s Ambassador to Chad, and US Ambassador to Chad, Alex Laskaris. They discussed “regional cooperation on Libya’s border security and economic development,” according to a statement by the US Embassy in Libya.