23 January – 29 January: France plan to reopen embassy in Libya this year

Jan 29, 2019 | International actors

On 26 January, France announced it is planning to reopen its embassy in Libya this year, according to French Ambassador to Libya Beautice du Hellene. The announcement was made during a meeting with the Government of National Accord’s Minister of Economy and Industry, Ali Issawi, signalling the embassy will be open in Tripoli to help facilitate French business return and bolster trade between France and Libya.

On 25 January, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested that election deadlines for Libya were not constructive given an agreement needs to be made on a political solution to the country first. In a joint press conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Lavrov told reporters, “We have repeatedly highlighted the non-constructive character of deadlines in Libya.”

On 24 January, Libya, Niger, Chad and Sudan agreed to have a ministerial meeting concerning border control in Niger’s capital, Niamey, on 20 February. It will include government representatives from foreign affairs, justice, interior, and intelligence services. A panel of experts is planned to meet two days before on 18 February. The decision was made following meetings on the side-lines of the European-African ministerial meetings in Brussels, Belgium.

On 22 January, the Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj met with the US Ambassador to Libya, Peter Bodi, to discuss security arrangements in Tripoli, economic reforms and the political situation in the country. The discussions also explored bilateral cooperation in development and economic areas and the US-Libya Strategic Partnership for Combating Terrorism.

On 24 January, Serraj met with the EU ambassador to Libya, Alan Bugeja, in Tripoli. The two discussed the EU’s assistance of the GNA in the health sector, economic, security and political environment and illegal migration.