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Egypt Reopens Tripoli Embassy After 12 YearsWorld
Twelve years after its Tripoli mission was shut amid unrest, Egypt has reopened its embassy in the Libyan capital, with its foreign minister attending the ceremony.
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Egypt has reopened its embassy in Libya’s capital Tripoli, twelve years after it was shut when unrest forced foreign missions to leave the country, in a step aimed at rebuilding ties between the two neighbours.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke at the reopening ceremony on Saturday, saying the move would strengthen relations between Egypt and Libya and help implement agreements between the two nations.
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The embassy was closed in 2014, when worsening security conditions in Libya forced many foreign missions to withdraw their staff from Tripoli. Its reopening marks a significant return of Egypt’s diplomatic presence to the Libyan capital.
The reopening came weeks after a maritime deal between the government in Tripoli and Turkiye angered Cairo, adding a fresh strain to relations in the region. Egypt has long been concerned about developments in Libya, with which it shares a long border.
High committee talks
Abdelatty was in Tripoli on Saturday to co-chair a meeting of the Libya-Egypt high committee, which reviews cooperation between the two countries. During the visit, he discussed areas of cooperation with Libya’s interim prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and foreign minister Taher al-Baour.
The talks covered areas of cooperation between the two countries. Both sides have an interest in stability in Libya, which has been mired in conflict and political division since the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi.
Libya remains split between rival administrations, with the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity in the west and a rival administration in the east. Foreign powers, including Egypt and Turkiye, have backed different sides at different times, and the country has struggled to hold unified elections.
Egypt has repeatedly said it wants a stable and united Libya, and has taken part in international efforts to support a political settlement. The reopening of the embassy is seen as a sign that Cairo believes the security situation in Tripoli has improved enough for a permanent diplomatic mission.
The two sides are expected to follow up on the agreements discussed during the high committee meeting in the coming weeks. Thousands of Egyptians work in Libya, and the two countries have deep trade and labour ties. The return of the embassy is expected to make it easier for citizens of both countries to obtain visas and consular help.
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