Egyptian Foreign Minister Visits Libya for CEN-SAD Summit and Embassy Reopening

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, … Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has commenced his official visit to the Libyan capital with a comprehensive agenda focused on participating in the 22nd ordinary session of the Executive Council of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) and inaugurating the newly constructed Egyptian embassy building in Tripoli.

According to informed sources, the high-level talks will encompass a wide range of joint political and security dossiers. Key focus areas include the recent parliamentary ratification in Libya of the 2019 maritime memorandum of understanding between Libya and Turkey, its subsequent implications for Cairo-Tripoli relations, and broader geopolitical dynamics across the Eastern Mediterranean region.

These diplomatic developments unfold as Cairo has previously voiced strong opposition to the parliamentary endorsement of the accord. During previous consultations with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Istanbul late October, Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s firm rejection of the pact, emphasizing that the agreement fails to impact Egypt’s established maritime rights and national interests.

The itinerary also features evaluations of the broader Libyan political transition and the enhancement of bilateral security cooperation, specifically addressing joint border protection, counter-terrorism initiatives, combatting organized crime, and dismantling human trafficking networks. Furthermore, delegations from both nations are slated to explore strategies for expanding bilateral economic exchanges and commercial trade.

The official reopening of the Cairo embassy in Tripoli, presided over by Abdelatty, carries significant diplomatic weight, signaling Egypt’s strategic resolve to solidify its diplomatic footprint in the Libyan capital and foster direct communication channels with Libyan officials. This visit gains heightened relevance against the backdrop of recent developments in the Libyan dossier, particularly friction arising from the Turkey-Libya maritime pact, which has previously drawn opposition from Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, and several European governments.