(AFP PHOTO)
Matrouh Security Directorate announced Tuesday the closure of the Salloum border crossing until further notice.
A source in the directorate said the crossing’s closure in both directions was upon a request from Libyan authorities, and it will remain closed until further notice.
Libya is currently witnessing ongoing battles between the government and armed militias who are battling for territory and control, leaving scores dead and wounded. This has led to the collapse of the democratic transition process after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.
Deteriorating security conditions have taken their toll on Egyptians who work and live in Libya. In two separate incidents, 20 Coptic Egyptians were kidnapped in Libya earlier this month, with 10 further Egyptians going missing near the city of Beni Walid, according to their families in Egypt.
A jihadi website circulated photos last week of kidnapped Christians, allegedly released by the Islamic State’s branch in Libya. It is still unclear whether the captives are the Coptic Egyptians who went missing in Libya earlier this month.
Egyptian authorities formed a “crisis cell” to work on the release of kidnapped Egyptians upon orders from President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. The foreign ministry asserted Tuesday “maximum efforts” are exerted to help release the kidnapped.
