On 17 February, Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, expressed in a press briefing that a delegation comprised of officials from the foreign ministry and security apparatus was sent to Libya, in order to explore the possibilities in reopening Egyptian diplomatic presence in the form of an embassy and consulate in Tripoli and Benghazi, respectively.
Shoukry indicated that Egypt has a special bond with Libya and it works tirelessly so that the common interests and concerns of the two peoples are discussed. Furthermore, these ties can help in eliminating challenges both countries consider as a threat, whether these are challenges with connections to terrorism or issues in relation to the consequences of political instability and military conflict, the Egyptian Foreign Minister said.
The briefing given by the Egyptian Foreign Minister came at a time when Egypt has been acting as a mediator between the different parties of the civil war in Libya. Additionally, Egypt has also hosted numerous consultations between the Libyan parties, especially those regarding constitutional amendments discussed recently by the Libyan Constitutional Committee in the city of Hurghada.
The embassy and consulate of Egypt were closed in 2014, following the kidnapping of four Egyptian staff members working at the embassy and an attack by gunmen on the consulate. The attacks aforementioned were the result of the violent conflicts emerging in Libya, after the toppling and killing of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
