In a meeting on the sidelines of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi discussed the latest developments in Libya with President of the LPC Mohamed Al-Menfi.
According to the Egyptian presidency, El-Sisi stated that holding the presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya will reflect positively on political efforts to end the current crisis by empowering the will and choice of the Libyan people.
From his side, Al-Menfi expressed his country’s appreciation on both the official and popular level for Egypt's vital role in restoring peace and stability in Libya, especially in the light of the historical relations between the two countries and the leading Egyptian role in supporting Libyan national institutions, according to Ahram.
Egypt has been pushing for a political settlement to the Libyan crisis and has hosted several rounds of talks of the Libyan Constitutional Track Committee – which comprises representatives of Libya's two rival parliamentary chambers – to reach a consensus on the Libyan draft constitution.
It has also hosted several rounds of talks between the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission to unify Libya’s armed forces.
Libya has been in a political stalemate since the east-based parliament appointed Fathi Bashagha as prime minister-designate in February 2022 to replace Tripoli-based prime minister Abdul-Hamid Al-Dbeibah after the latter failed to hold the country’s anticipated presidential elections in December 2021.
However, Dbeibah refused to hand over power, saying his government would continue to work and only hand over office to an elected government.
Libyan expert Aya Burweila comments on Pentapostagma
"The decree is a strong message to Turkey and its proxy regime in Tripoli that Egypt will no longer be entertaining unlawful agreements with rogue governments that violate the sovereignty of third countries or international law", says Aya Bourweila, founder of the NGO Code on the Road and BBC expert woman on terrorism and radicalization, commenting on Egypt's demarcation of the EEZ in the Eastern Mediterranean.
"It is important to remember that the long expired GNU has no legal right domestically or internationally to enter such agreements. Sisi is essentially saying, "you can play, but I can play too" and drawing a line to years of destructive Turkish games in Libya", adds Ms. Burweila.
"The next logical step for the international community is to withdraw recognition from the GNU, sanction spoilers to elections whether they are political actors or militias, and work with the High National Election Commission to carry out elections. This would be the most constructive steps for those who sincerely wish to resolve the Libyan crisis", she cocludes.
