The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, stressed Egypt’s commitment to support the Libyan people in all levels. He pointed out to the Egyptian solid stance toward the Libyan issue, according to a statement from the foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Hafez.
During his speech before the seventh session of the high level committee on Libya in the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Sunday, Shoukry explained that the Egyptian stance regarding the situation in Libya is based on pushing toward political solutions to settle the crisis and ensure the unity and sovereignty of Libyan territories.
The session was held during the 32nd summit of the AU in presence of the United Nations’ envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame.
The session reviewed the latest updates in the Libyan scene and the exerted efforts for reaching national agreement between the Libyan rivals in order to reach a political settlement for the crisis and restore security and stability. The committee shall deliver its report on the Libyan crisis to the union’s summit.
Shoukry told Egyptian local media that the situation in Libya is on the summit’s focus, noting that Egypt is working to restore stability in its neighbouring country. He stressed the importance of the African role, in collaboration with the United Nations, to reach a political solution for the crisis.
On Sunday, an aircraft affiliated to the National Libyan Army, under the command of General Khalifa Haftar, intercepted a civil plane during an operation for the control of the oil rich southern part of Libya.
The operation of Hafter’s forces in southern Libya began in January, fighting groups of militants and seizing control of oil institutions. The UN-recognised Libyan government condemned Haftar’s manoeuvres.
Violence has engulfed in Libya since 2011, when a popular uprising ended with the ousting and death of former President Muammar Gaddafi. Since the ousting of Gaddafi the country has witnessed rival governments and parliaments in the west and east.
