Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh praised Egypt’s unwavering support for Libya, emphasizing Cairo’s commitment to resolving Libya’s crises, without interference.
In an interview with Alqahera News Channel, Saleh highlighted Egypt’s role in seeking stability and a resolution to the situation in Libya.
Saleh commended Egypt’s actions as a “natural expression of neighbourly relations,” emphasizing the historical and significant support provided by Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
He stressed the common bonds between the Libyan and Egyptian people, citing shared relations, historical positions, common borders, and mutual national security.
Saleh expressed confidence that Egypt would “never abandon Libya,” expressing hope for Egypt’s engagement with the Parliament and High Council of State (HCS) approved government.
He noted that international entities would be compelled to engage with a government formed through consensus, referring to constitutional declarations and political agreements.
He pointed to the success of his recent visit to Turkey, where President Erdogan “understood the Libyan delegation’s perspective, acknowledging the situation in Libya.”
Notably, the Libyan Parliament has officially refused to participate in any dialogue involving the Government of National Unity (GNU), which it describes as “having an expired mandate.” This announcement was made in a brief statement released on Tuesday morning.
Abdoulaye Bathily, the UN Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stated on Monday that “all parties have not rejected participation in a dialogue aimed at forming a new unity government.” This government is envisioned to oversee the transition to Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
During a session held on Wednesday, the Libyan Parliament, responding to a request from 39 MP’s, agreed to refuse participation in any political dialogue involving the GNU. The session also emphasised the necessity of debating the Parliament’s involvement, in any dialogue within the parliamentary forum.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.