Abdel Fattah Al-Sissi threatens to militarily intervene in Libya

22 Juin 2020

Tripoli, Libya, June 22 (Infosplusgabon) - Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Saturday announced his country's readiness to intervene militarily in Libya, asking Egyptian military personnel to be ready to operate in theaters abroad.

Al-Sissi was speaking after his initiative to settle the Libyan crisis was rejected.

In an address to troops during a visit to Egyptian army units, Al-Sissi, whose country borders Libya, said his country will not allow the conflict in Libya to cross the line from Sirte (Center of Libya), noting that "Sirte and Al-Jafra in terms of national security of Egypt are a red line that we will not allow to cross".

Remember that after the defeat suffered by Haftar's forces in western Libya and after losing the Tripoli war in 15 months of fighting, the Libyan army loyal to the government of national accord which is recognized by the international community, is advancing steadily to Sirte, occupied by Haftar supporters and focusing attention at the air base of Al-Jafra.

The Egyptian President added that "Egypt is ready to provide support and assistance to the Libyan people", adding: "Countries do not stabilize with the presence of armed militias."

He assured that once the Egyptian forces are involved they will leave not leave until the end of the mission.

This threat from the Egyptian president was clarified by a spokesperson for the Presidency of Egypt who said, according to local press, that any direct Egyptian intervention in Libya "has become accessible thanks to international legitimacy, whether under the Charter of the United Nations (right to self-defense), or on the basis of the only legitimate authority elected by the Libyan people (Parliament)".

Analysts believe that the threat of a military intervention directly in Libya by the Egyptian president can risk a conflagration in the the region at a time when efforts are being deployed on more than one front to find a way out of the crisis through the resumption of the political process.

Algeria on Saturday received the president of the Libyan Presidential Council, Fayez Al-Sarraj, after having previously received the president of the Libyan Parliament, Aguila Salah, who represents the camp of Haftar.Abdelmajid Tabboune.

In addition, Turkey and Russia, the two main players on the scene in Libya, are in negotiations to find common ground for a peaceful outcome with a ceasefire as a prelude to the resumption of negotiations.

Cairo's Declaration for the settlement of the crisis in Libya, presented by the Egyptian President, is based on the restructuring of the Presidential Council and the proclamation of a ceasefire, as well as the resumption of military talks in the framework of the 5 + 5 Joint Military Commission under the auspices of the United Nations.

But this plan was rejected by the government of national accord in Libya and its ally, Turkey.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/ZTR/GABON2020

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