Cairo— The Foreign Minister of Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia meeting in Cairo on Saturday called for an end to escalation in the capital Tripoli and western Libya in general, according to a statement issued after the meeting.
“In light of the dangerous developments taking place in Libya and the security situation in the capital, Tripoli, the Ministers renewed their call for all Libyan parties to exercise maximum restraint and immediately cease escalation, ensuring the safety of the Libyan people,” the statement said.
The ‘Tripartite Mechanism’ meeting that brought together the Egyptian FM Badr Abdel Aty, Algeria’s FM Ahmed Attaf and the Tunisian FM Mohamed Ali Nafti focused on joint coordination on the latest developments in light of the fragility of the situation in western Libya. It also highlighted the shared desire to exchange views and assessments to contribute to supporting Libya at this critical time.
The three countries said they would back the UN mission in Libya’s efforts that eventually will be “leading to an end to the division and advancing the political process in Libya toward unifying institutions and holding simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections,” according to the statement.
The ministers affirmed their rejection of all forms of foreign interference in Libya, which would exacerbate internal tensions and prolong the Libyan crisis, threatening security and stability in Libya and neighboring countries.
They also emphasized the need to continue supporting “the efforts of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission to consolidate the existing ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of all foreign forces, foreign fighters, and mercenaries within a specified timeframe, and reunify military and security institutions, in full harmony with ongoing efforts within the UN, African, Arab, and Mediterranean frameworks,” it added.
It is worth noting that the Tripartite Mechanism between Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia was launched in 2017 and ceased to function for various reasons in 2019; only to be reactivated today.
