On Monday, the Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s fixed stance on Libya. This includes the necessity to undermine illegal foreign interference, combat extremist groups, and restore security and stability to the country.
President El-Sisi stressed that “solidarity, and consistent stances remain an effective way to ward off foreign dangers,” during a visit by Saudi Arabian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, according to ‘Ahram Online’ news site.
He emphasized the coherence of national security between the two countries, and that Egypt would continue to be the Kingdom’s main partner in the region. The two parties agreed that a political solution remains the basis for resolving the Libyan crisis, as is the case with the situations in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
Egyptian foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, held a press conference with bin Farhan, and stated that Egypt seeks to implement a ceasefire in Libya. He explained that Cairo wishes to stabilize the situation and stop further military escalation. Shoukry added that the Libyan Presidential Council must be remade in the presence of a government that provides services to the people. This must be under the supervision of the Libyan Parliament, along with a ceasefire in the war-torn country.
Libya has been marred in violence between competing forces, militias, and extremists since the toppling and killing of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The conflict now pits the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) against the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, for control of the country.