Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army, today in a meeting that included Major General Hassan Rashad, Head of Egyptian General Intelligence. Also present were Lieutenant General Khaled Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Libyan National Army, and Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan National Army.
Emphasis on the unity of Libya and rejection of foreign interference
During the meeting, the depth and special nature of Egyptian-Libyan relations were emphasized. President Sisi stressed Egypt’s full support for Libya’s sovereignty, stability, unity, and territorial integrity.
President Sisi praised the pivotal role played by the Libyan National Army’s General Command in this regard. He stressed the need to confront any foreign interference and to work towards the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya.
For his part, Field Marshal Haftar expressed his appreciation for the pivotal role played by Egypt and President Sisi personally in restoring security and stability to Libya. He added that Cairo has consistently provided support to the Libyan people since the beginning of the crisis, emphasizing his commitment to continued coordination and exchange of views with President Sisi regarding various developments on both the Libyan and regional fronts.
Supporting simultaneous elections and supporting national institutions
President Sisi reiterated Egypt’s support for all initiatives and efforts aimed at resolving the Libyan crisis. He explained that these initiatives aim to hold presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously.
The Egyptian president emphasized Cairo’s commitment to continuing to provide all forms of support to the Libyan army and national institutions. This stems from the historical and fraternal relations that bind the two countries and their brotherly peoples.
Agreement on the importance of stability in Sudan
The meeting also addressed the latest regional developments of common interest, and the challenges facing both countries, most notably the developments in Sudan.
Both sides agreed on the importance of intensifying international and regional efforts to reach a peaceful settlement that preserves Sudan’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. In this regard, they affirmed that Sudan’s stability is closely linked to the national security of both Egypt and Libya.
