A ceremony was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to inaugurate the new Libyan Embassy building, attended by the Minister of Housing and Construction for the Government of National Unity, Abubakar Al-Ghawi, and Libya’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mohamed Adam Lino.
The event was also attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Housing and Construction for the Affairs of Affected Areas, Abdul-Moula Athoma, Mayor of Central Tripoli Municipality, Ibrahim Al-Khalifi, and several Ethiopian officials, including the Director of the Protocol Department at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Director of the African Affairs Department, and the Director of the Foreign Affairs Department at the Ministry.
The Ministry of Housing and Construction stated that this initiative comes as part of the directives of the Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba, following his visit to the Ethiopian capital in April. During his visit, Dbaiba emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between Libya and Ethiopia across various sectors, as well as coordinating on regional issues of mutual concern.
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.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.
