Egyptian president vows not to stand idle on threats to Egyptian, Libyan security

Egypt threatened to send in its army if GNA forces captured Sirte, located more than 800km from the Egyptian border

CAIRO, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi vowed that Egypt will not stand idle in the face of any direct threats to the security of Egypt and Libya.

Sisi made the remarks during his meeting with Libyan tribal leaders who arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the security situation in the war-torn country, the Egyptian Presidency said in a statement.

“As soon as Egypt interferes in Libya, the military scene will be changed quickly and decisively,” Sisi was quoted as saying.

He added that the main objective of the Egyptian efforts at all levels for Libya is to support the free will of the Libyan people to achieve a better future for the country and future generations.

The tribesmen, who are allied to the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) led by commander Khalifa Hafter, “have authorized the president and Egyptian army to intervene in Libya to protect its sovereignty,” the statement added.

This mandate came in line with the eastern-based Libya parliament’s request for Egypt to intervene in the Libyan conflict to counter what it called “a Turkish occupation.” Turkey has sided with the UN-backed Libyan government based in the capital Tripoli.

Earlier in June, Sisi called for a ceasefire in Libya, citing that Egypt had received “direct threats from terrorist militias and mercenaries supported by foreign countries.”

Tensions have been recently escalating between the two warring parties in Libya, the LNA and the Government of National Accord in Tripoli led by Fayez al-Serraj, and between the countries backing each side. 

In response, the Government of National Accord’s (GNA) Foreign Ministry spokesperson criticised the statement as “blatant interference in Libyan internal affairs”.

“El-Sisi’s talk is a repeat of his previous statements, which is a blatant interference in Libyan affairs,” Mohammed Al-Qablawi said, adding that el-Sisi’s speech was “not aimed at peace as he said, but it is he who is fueling the [Libyan] conflict.”

Libya, a major oil producer, has been mired in chaos since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

Since 2014, it has been split between rival factions based in Tripoli and in the east, in a sometimes-chaotic war that has drawn in outside powers and a flood of foreign arms and mercenaries.

Haftar is supported by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, while the GNA is backed by Turkey. 

Haftar’s eastern-based self-styled Libyan National Army has been on the back foot after Turkish support helped the GNA turn back his 14-month assault on the capital, Tripoli.

Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned the United Nations Security Council that the conflict in Libya has entered a new phase “with foreign interference reaching unprecedented levels”. — NNN-AGENCIES