On Sunday, the Presidential Council of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) rejected the statements made by Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi about the possibility of military intervention in the country. The Tripoli-based government regards them as ‘declaration of war’.
In a statement, the GNA-affiliated Presidential Council said that they reject any attempts of encroachment on Libya’s sovereignty, either by media statements as was the case with President Sisi or by the supporting of militias and mercenaries, stressing that all such acts are blatant interferences in Libyan internal affairs and are tantamount to a declaration of war.
The Presidential Council called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards this escalation in the Libyan crisis, saying: “We still welcome any mediating role by foreign countries, provided that they suggest neutral solutions and include the whole Libyan people in accordance with the United Nations resolutions, and not through biased unilateral initiatives”.
It noted that the GNA is the only legitimate representative of the Libyan state and has the right to determine the form and type of its agreements and alliances.
Earlier, the President of Egypt said that his country received direct threats from the “terrorist mercenaries and militias” supported in Libya, which makes any military intervention by Cairo now legitimate.
“Any direct intervention by the Egyptian state has now gained international legitimacy,” said el-Sisi.
According to the head of state, the purpose of using military force will be to protect the Egyptian border and achieve a ceasefire and establish peace and order in a neighbouring state.