Libyan Speaker arrives in Cairo as part of efforts to end Libyan crisis

CAIRO – 9 August 2020: Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh on Sunday arrived in Cairo, as part of international and regional meetings that aim at resolving the crisis in the war-torn country.

During his visit to Egypt, Saleh is set to meet with a number of officials and US Ambassador to Cairo Jonathan Cohen, sources said.

Anonymous sources on Friday told Libyan outlets that the United States had offered to mediate in the Libyan crisis, at the time of the Turkish mobilization of Syrian mercenaries and armed militias affiliated with Fayez al-Sarraj.

Egypt is keen to help Libyan brothers to find a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in their country, which would restore stability and undermine the impact of terrorist organizations in Libya and neighboring states, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Tuesday.

Libya is suffering a severe division between two factions; the Libyan Parliament and the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar in the east and the GNA led by Fayez Al-Sarraj. The latter is internationally recognized but is not accepted by the Parliament.

Hundreds were killed in continuous battles between the LNA and the forces of the GNA, over the past year.

The Egyptian House of Representatives has authorized President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to “take necessary measures” to protect national security, giving a green light for the president to send troops to Libya.

This came in a closed session in July on protecting the Egyptian and Libyan national security against terror threats. The session was attended only by the Parliament members and the general secretariat of the House.

A week earlier, Sisi said at a meeting with Libyan tribal chiefs in Egypt that any Egyptian military intervention in Libya may only materialize upon a request by the Libyan people and a permission from the Egyptian House.

According to Article 152 of the Egyptian constitution, the state has to seek the Parliament’s approval before declaring war or sending its forces in combat missions.

The members attending the session are not authorized to disclose any details of the discussion inside this secret meeting.

During his meeting with the tribal chiefs on July 16, Sisi said Egypt has always stood by a peaceful solution in Libya through encouraging negotiations between Libyan factions. However, it will not stand idly as it watches activities that threaten Egypt’s national security.

“Egypt has the strongest Army in the region and Africa,” he said, adding that it is, however, wise and does not assail or invade other territories.

He noted that in case the Egyptian forces entered Libya, they will be led by tribal leaders carrying the Libyan flag. He added that the army intervention in Libya has to be approved by the Egyptian House of Representatives.

Sisi promised that Egypt will intervene "only at the Libyans' request and withdraw upon their order.”