Libya re-opens Coastal Road between Sirte, Misrata in aftermath of Civil War

CAIRO – 20 June 2021: Libyan Interim Prime Minister Abdullah AlDabaiba announced Sunday that the Coastal Road extending between Sirte in Central Libya and Misrata western the country is officially re-opened after two years of closure.

Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Manfy commended the efforts of the Government of National Unity (GNU) that was elected earlier this year in Geneva, and the "loyalists" among Libyans to accomplish that goal and alleviate the suffering of the Libyan people.

In a related context, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry reiterated in a meeting with his Libyan counterpart Najla al-Mangoush Saturday Egypt’s support to the temporary executive authority in Libya in its mission during the transitional phase, the integrity of Libyan territories, the resolutions of the Libyan Dialogue Forum, Security Council resolution 2570, and holding national elections on Dec. 24, and removing all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without delay or procrastination.

The two diplomats discussed in Cairo preparations for the ministerial conference of Berlin 2 on Libya on June 23 and coming up with results that support the principles mentioned, guaranteeing a bright future for the Libyan people, according to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.  

Shoukry said Berlin 2 meeting is an opportunity for the international community to commit to welfare and sovereignty of Libyans.

For her part, Mangoush welcomed the reopening of the Egyptian embassy in Tripoli and the Egyptian consulate in Benghazi, praising the Egyptian role in the success of the Libyan Dialogue Forum and supporting legitimate Libyan institutions.

On Thursday, chief of the Egyptian intelligence Abbas Kamel visited Tripoli to meet with Prime Minister Abdel Hamid al-Dabaiba. There, Kamel emphasized Egypt’s unwavering efforts until elections are held in Libya, paving the way for national unity and establishing  a modern, civil, democratic state.

On March 16, power was handed over from the former presidential council to the new one, and from the 2014 Government of National Accord (GNA) to the GNU led by Prime Minister Abdullah AlDabaiba. The new interim government is supposed to pave the way for holding elections on December 24.

On March 15, the GNU members and prime minister took the oath of office before the Tobruk-based House of Representatives.

The new Chair of the Presidential Council is Mohamed Menfi, and the other two members are Mossa Al-Koni, and Abdullah Al-Lafi. Dabiba-Menfi list received the necessary votes in the ballot held by the UN-fostered Libyan National Dialogue Forum on February 6.

The dismantled interim non-elected GNA used to control western Libya and was using militias and mercenaries to hold territories. Simultaneously, central and eastern Libya were under the control of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the authority of the elected House of Representatives and an interim government it had formed. 

Unlike the GNA, which was based in Tripoli in the west, the GNU is based in Sirte located in central Libya.