Libyan Acting Foreign Minister Holds Talks with French Delegation on Bilateral Relations and Regional Cooperation

Al-Taher Al-Baour, the Acting Foreign Minister of Libya's Government of National Unity, held meetings in Tripoli on Tuesday with a delegation from the French Foreign Ministry led by Ambassador Karim Amellal. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Libya and France and examining prospects for joint cooperation in various areas.

During the meeting, Al-Baour and the French delegation addressed political developments in Libya and the broader region. They also discussed cooperation in fields such as efforts to combat irregular migration. Al-Baour expressed appreciation for France's support of Palestine's bid for full United Nations membership.

The French envoy is scheduled to hold additional meetings with Libyan politicians, economists, and representatives from civil society during the visit to Tripoli. The trip comes as Libya continues to navigate a complex political landscape and work towards holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

Why this matters: Libya has been mired in instability and conflict since the 2011 uprising that ousted longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. Engagement by international partners like France is seen as vital to supporting Libya's fragile peace process and fostering an environment conducive to holding nationwide elections.

In related developments, the first consultative meeting between Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria reaffirmed its rejection of foreign interference in Libya's internal affairs. The UN mission in Libya also expressed sadness over the recent death of a Libyan activist while in custody.

Diplomatic Meetings: Al-Baour held separate meetings on Tuesday with the Japanese Ambassador to Libya, Shimmura Izuru, and the Ghanaian Ambassador, Mark Michael Antsi. Those discussions centered on strengthening bilateral ties and examining joint cooperation between Libya and the respective countries.

The meetings with the French delegation and foreign ambassadors underscore the Government of National Unity's efforts to bolster Libya's international relationships and garner support for the country's political transition. As Al-Baour noted, Libya is keen to open new avenues of cooperation with partners like France across various sectors. However, significant challenges remain in uniting Libya's divided factions and charting a path towards viable elections and a lasting resolution to the conflict.

Key Takeaways

• Libya's acting FM met French delegation to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.
• Discussions focused on political developments, combating irregular migration, and UN membership.
• Libya seeks international support for its fragile peace process and upcoming elections.
• Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria rejected foreign interference in Libya's internal affairs.
• Libya's acting FM also met Japanese and Ghanaian ambassadors to discuss bilateral ties.