Egypt’s president meets Libya’s Haftar, affirms support for country’s stability

By Hussien Elkabany and Betul Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met in the coastal city of El-Alamein on Monday with East Libya-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Sisi affirmed during the meeting that Libya’s stability is “an integral part of Egypt’s national security,” the presidency said in a statement.

He highlighted Egypt’s efforts to “reinforce security and stability in Libya, preserve its unity and sovereignty, and restore its development path,” it added.

The Egyptian leader underlined the urgent need to counter foreign interference and work to facilitate the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libyan territory.

Haftar, for his part, expressed “his profound appreciation for Egypt's pivotal role in restoring security and stability in Libya” the statement said.

He also welcomed “Egypt's unyielding efforts in supporting and assisting the Libyan people since the outbreak of the crisis.”

Libya remains divided between two rival administrations: one led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh in Tripoli, which controls the west of the country, and another appointed by the House of Representatives (parliament) in early 2022, led by Osama Hammad and based in Benghazi, which governs the east and much of the south.

The UN continues to mediate efforts to unify governance and hold national elections in the country.