By Rania Abu Shamala
ISTANBUL (AA) – The foreign ministers of Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria called on all Libyan parties to “engage seriously” in the UN-sponsored political settlement process to end years of rift in the country, following a trilateral meeting held in Algiers on Thursday.
In a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed their countries’ “continued coordination and shared commitment to reviving the political track aimed at ending the Libyan crisis through a peaceful settlement under UN auspices.”
They stressed that any solution “must be owned and led by the Libyan people themselves,” ensuring Libya’s unity, sovereignty, and institutional integrity.
The statement urged Libyan factions to “prioritize wisdom and dialogue” and to “place national interests above all else” in order to overcome the obstacles hindering simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections that would “turn the page on divisions and bring a definitive end to the protracted crisis.”
The top diplomats emphasized the need for “comprehensive national reconciliation involving all components of the Libyan people” and underlined that “security and development are inseparable pillars of lasting stability.”
They affirmed their “principled rejection of all forms of foreign interference,” warning that such interferences “prolong the conflict and threaten regional stability.”
They called for the withdrawal of foreign fighters and mercenaries, the consolidation of the ceasefire, and the reunification of Libya’s military and security institutions, affirming their readiness to “stand by the Libyan people to achieve their legitimate aspirations for peace, stability, and development.”
Libya remains split between two administrations: a government appointed by the House of Representatives in early 2022 and based in Benghazi, led by Osama Hammad, which controls the east and much of the south; and the internationally recognized Government of National Unity, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah in Tripoli, which runs the west.
Libyans hope long-delayed elections will end years of political division and conflict that have persisted since the 2011 overthrow of ruler Muammar Gaddafi.