(Author: Libyan Gazette Editorial Staff)
Abdelkader Messahel, who is the Minister of Maghreb Affairs, the African Union and the Arab League, said in a radio broadcast on Monday that Algeria is reopening its embassy in Tripoli next week and promised to develop areas along the Libyan border.
Messahel stated that his recent visit to Libya on April 20 with Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj renewed Algeria’s support of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and that his country is in final preparations of starting the process of reopening its embassy in Libya’s capital.
“This visit has renewed the support of Algeria to the efforts for the recovery of peace, security and stability in Libya, and also to identify avenues for cooperation that will help to rebuild the country,” Messahel stated during a national radio broadcast on Monday.
Many countries closed their embassies during the 2014 Libyan civil war due to violence and political conflict, with some relocating their embassies to neighboring Tunisia.
Algeria, which is enthusiastic to be the first country to reopen its embassy in Libya, closed its embassy in January 2015 after its headquarters was targeted and bombed in an attack which left three people dead.
In addition, Messahel stated that as soon as the GNA is permanently established in Tripoli, Algeria is planning to develop areas along the Libyan border in an effort to further strengthen the relationship and security between the two countries, a colossal feet as the countries share almost 1,000 kilometres along their borders.
“It is important that the border really becomes a bridge between the two countries, and also a rampart against all threats against both our countries, while cooperation is in various fields,” added Messahel.
Algeria has played a key role in helping pave the way for Libya to unite under the GNA and has mediated several rounds of UN-brokering peace talks which resulted in a power-sharing agreement between Libya’s various political groups in December of 2015.
“Libya has extraordinary capacities, an important potential, trained executives, political men and women able to overcome this crisis situation. There is willingness among our Libyan partners to build their country and keep it united,” said Messahel.
Libya has descended into chaos since the 2011 uprising which toppled and killed former dictator Muammar Gaddafi left a power vacuum in the country, allowing various armed groups to take over regions and ISIS militants to set up a stronghold in Libya.
Several European countries as well as Tunisia have also expressed that they were preparing to reopen their embassies in Tripoli, indicating that the international community is optimistic that Sarraj’s unity government is able to bring back stability and security to Libya.