Egypt, Saudi Arabia call for exit of mercenaries, foreign forces from Libya within specific timeframe

CAIRO – 12 January 2023: Egypt and Saudi Arabia have called for the exit of foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya within a specific timeframe and dissolving militias in implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and Berlin and Paris tracks.

This would meet the aspirations of the Libyan people and achieve security and unity of the country, the two countries said during the fifth meeting of the joint Egyptian-Saudi Follow-up and Political Consultation Committee on Thursday.

They confirmed support to a Libyan-Libyan solution under the UN auspices, affirming the necessity to stop foreign interference in the Libyan affairs.

They both hailed the role of the Libyan House of Representatives and Higher Council of State in fulfilling the frameworks that enable Libyans to march toward future.

They also praised their referral of the constitutional document to the House and the Council for approval, affirming the need to complete relevant measures, including approving electoral laws and executive measures.

Early this month, Libyan leaders held talks in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, during which they agreed on drawing a “clear and specified” roadmap later in order to hold the long-awaited elections.

Speaker of Libya’s House of Representatives Aguila Saleh and Chairman of the Higher Council of State Khaled Al-Mishri issued a joint declaration following the talks in the headquarters of the Egyptian House of Representatives.

During the meeting, they agreed on drawing a roadmap that ensures completing all the required measures to complete the electoral process, including those related to the bases, laws, executive measures, and the unification of institutions.

As per the declaration, a joint committee of the house and the Council will be in charge of referring the country’s constitutional document to the two bodies so that they pass it in accordance with the system of each of them.