Libyan Speaker, U.S. Ambassador congrue on ceasefire, disarmament of Sirte, Al Jufrah

CAIRO – 10 August 2020: Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh met with U.S. Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland in Cairo on Monday to confer over the steps already taken to achieve the Cairo Declaration aimed at ending the civil war in Libya.

The Cairo Declaration builds upon Berlin Conference outcomes urging that all foreign powers abstain from intervening in Libya. A ceasefire and an embargo have been mandated by several UN Security Council resolutions on Libya.

There was congruence among Saleh and Norland to maintain the ceasefire that began in June after the Libyan National Army (LNA) lost its last stronghold western Libya, Tarhouna, to the militias of the Government of National Accord (GNA). Both also shared the same views on continuing the disarmament of Sirte and Al Jufrah cities until the political dialogue resumes.

The U.S. ambassador reiterated that no military solution shall be sought in Libya, and that the ceasefire is a must. The Libyan Speaker is on a visit to Egypt to discuss solutions to his country's crisis.

On June 20, Egypt's President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi declared Sirte and Al Jufrah in central Libya a red line that if crossed, Egypt's "direct intervention" becomes internationally legitimate.

That is because it is aligned with the UN Security Council resolutions on Libya and Berlin Conference imposing an arm embargo on Libyan factions, banning foreign intervention in the North African State, and advocating for a political solutions. Furthermore, Egypt's intervention is requested by the elected Libyan House of Representatives and Libyan tribes.

On July 13, the Libyan House of Representatives issued a statement allowing the Egyptian Armed Forces to intervene whenever it perceives a threat to the security of Egypt and Libya describing Turkey as "the invading occupier."

On July 16, President Sisi met with Tribe leaders belonging to eastern, central, and western Libya in Cairo as they demanded Egypt's military support to repel Turkish aggression. "We will enter Libya upon the request of the Libyan people, and will leave it in compliance with the order of the Libyan people," the president stated.

 On July 20, the Egyptian House of Representatives approved sending troops beyond Egyptian borders on the western strategic direction.