Relations between Egypt and Libya are an example to be copied of long-standing cooperation in all fields.

Egypt is keen on consulting with Libya on all international and regional issues of mutual concern; the two countries being party to numerous Arab, African and Mediterranean forums.

Political Relations

Relations between the two countries passed by various stages associated with the rule of three Egyptian Presidents (Abdel Nasser - Sadat - Mubarak), where happened instability of the situation on the Libyan arena, and its associated with changes to keep up with the rule of each of the three presidents, and at each stage it seemed that each side needs the other.

 

The relations between the leaderships of the two countries are special and strong, reflected positively at the level of political coordination, particularly since the interests and visions of the two countries are similar in many political issues.

 

 

On February 15, 2011, the Libyans rose against Col. Gaddafi's rule of 42 years. The uprising escalated into an armed conflict, which prompted a resolution by the United Nation to create an international coalition to protect Libya's civilian population.

On its part, Egypt refused to take part in any military operation against Libya. Egyptians, Libyans and foreigners caught in the middle of the conflict, and stranded on the borders were received and welcomed by the Egyptian Armed Forces.

 

Egypt also sent humanitarian assistance to Libya.

 

Egypt's mediation to solve Libya's crisis

The Foreign Ministry hosted on 26-27/7/2016 several meetings that included Libyan officials to discuss the situation in Libya.

The meetings were attended by Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh and Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya Fayez al-Sarraj.

The meetings aimed at finding appropriate solutions to maintain the interests of the Libyan people and safeguard state institutions in Libya. The meetings will be held in the coming period to achieve unity among the Libyan people. 

Egypt's Parliament Speaker meets Libyan Parliament Speaker 

During his meeting with Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and his accompanying delegation, Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal underlined Egypt's continued support to Libya and its nation.

He, meanwhile, urged all the Libyan sides to provide concessions in order to find a solution to the political crisis.

Abdel Aal said that Egypt's supportive stance to Libya came due to the close ties binding the two countries.

AL chief stresses need to support legitimate Libyan institutions

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit underlined the need of providing the necessary support for the legitimate Libyan institutions.

During his meeting with Libyan Parliament Speaker Agila Saleh and his accompanying delegation, Abul Gheit stressed the need of attaching special importance to confront the danger of the militias and terrorist groups in Libya.

The Arab League's role is crucial in preparations related to the settlement of the situation in Libya, as the Libyan crisis is an Arab crisis in the first place, he added.

He further appreciated international efforts which aim to stabilize the situation in Libya, according to a statement issued by the pan-Arab body.

Abul Gheit was also keen to review discussions held on Libya during the recent Arab summit in Nouakchott, said the AL's Spokesman Mahmoud Afifi.

Mutual Visits

On 26/7/2016: Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal met Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh and his accompanying delegation. He underlined Egypt's continued support to Libya and its nation. He urged all the Libyan sides to provide concessions in order to find a solution to the political crisis.

On 7/5/2016: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met head of Libya's new unity government, Fayez al Sarraj. During the meeting, he stressed Egypt's continuous support for the Presidential Council and the Libyan institutions. President Sisi stressed the importance of preserving such institutions, including the Libyan army, to regain control over the entire Libyan territories, restore security and fight terrorism.

On 5/5/2016: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received deputy head of Libya's national accord government Moussa al Kawni. The two sides discussed the latest developments in Libya and the importance of achieving national accord by means of approving the new government by the Libyan parliament. Ongoing pro-reconciliation efforts were also high on the agenda of the meeting, he added.

On 9/2/2016: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi met Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh Issa. He said that Egypt is keen on supporting the political process in Libya under the UN mediation. Sisi praised efforts to form a national unity government in Libya. Egypt is ready to provide every possible support for Libya, Sisi said. He called for lifting arms embargo on Libya to eradicate terrorist groups.

On 18/1/2016: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met his Libyan counterpart Mohamed al Dairi, who is currently visiting Egypt, to consult with officials on the conditions in crisis-hit Libya along with efforts to form a national accord government. The Egyptian and Libyan sides agreed on the need for supporting efforts aiming to form a national accord government and put Libya first above any and all considerations. The meeting also tackled the conditions of members of the Libyan community in Egypt.

On 19/11/2015: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met the Libyan Prime Minister Designate Fayez al Sarraj. Shoukry stressed, during the meeting, that Egypt's stance will not change towards preserving the unity and sovereignty of the Libyan territories and resuming the dialogue sponsored by the United Nations (UN) and stopping violence. Egypt calls also for supporting the political process in the Arab country to fight terrorism, Shoukry underscored.

On 27/7/2015, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri probed with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed al-Dairi the political and security situation in Libya after initialing the Skhirat peace deal. They discussed the need that other Libyan parties sign the deal for the formation of a national government, build State institutions and achieve the people’s aspirations for a modern democratic State.

On 27/3/2015, President Abdel Fattah El Sisi held meeting with Libyan Parliament Speaker Aqila Issa and reviewed the latest developments in Libya.

On 28/12/2014, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri conferred with his visiting Libyan counterpart Mohamed al-Deiry on the political and security situation in Libya and means to boost bilateral ties.

On 9/10/2014, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri met with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed el-Dayry in Cairo.

They are set to discuss ways of promoting bilateral ties in all fields, as well as the latest developments in Libya.

On 8/10/2014, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni. President Sisi renewed the support of Egypt government and people for the options of the Libyan people, underlining the need to work for supporting the institutions of the Libyan state, together with collecting arms and establishing a strong national army far from tribalism and factionalism.

On 24/8/2014, at a meeting with a Libyan parliamentary delegation, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said that Egypt supports the aspirations of the Libyan people and backs the State institutions which ensure Libya's unity and territorial integrity.

On 6/7/2014, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri met with his Libyan counterpart Mohamed Abdel-Aziz.

They discussed the latest developments in Libya and Arab and Egyptian efforts to defuse the Libyan crisis.

On 7/3/2014, former Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmi met with Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zeidan and Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdul-Aziz, during his visit to Rome, where they discussed the Egyptian-Libyan relations and means of providing security to Egyptian workers in Libya.

Fahmy discussed with Zeidan means of achieving security in Libya as well as measures taken to secure the Libyan borders.

On 10/4/ 2013, Egypt and Libya signed a military cooperation agreement in the presence of Armed Forces Chief-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Sedki Sobhi and his Libyan counterpart Youssef al-Mangoush.

Under the agreement, Egypt and Libya will consolidate military cooperation in the fields of training and expertise exchange.

On 6/8/2012, Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib visited Egypt leading by a high level delegation which included the ministers of labor, economy, education, scientific research, higher education, agriculture and animal wealth, and finance as well the Army Chief of Staff.

The Higher Egyptian-Libyan Committee:

The tenth session of this Committee was convened in Tripoli, Libya, during the period from 1st to 5th December 2009 chaired by the prime ministers of the two countries, and witnessed the signing of 9 protocols and memoranda of understanding in several areas including education, trade, manpower, the consular affairs and others.

 

 

Economic Relations

On 6/8/2012, Egypt and Libya agreed to strengthen control of border areas with the purpose of ultimately preventing smuggling of goods and commodities.

 

Egypt promised to support in institution-building operations in Libya. Meanwhile the Libyan side pledged to multiply its investments in Egypt and to facilitate the return of Egyptian companies to participate in reconstructions efforts in Libya.

 

Two MoUs were signed in the fields of e-exchange and higher education.

 

On 3/7/2008, the Higher Libyan-Egyptian Committee convened in Cairo where a strategic framework for economic cooperation was signed between the two countries. That framework included:

 

1. Setting the number of investment projects and Egyptian workforce in Libya.

 

2. Promoting the level of Libyan investments in Egypt to $ 2 billion. The Egyptian side would offer $ 8 billion loans through several projects, the most important of which were:

 

• The fourth tributary at Toshka Project which is based on the Nile waters.

• The lands of Farafra Oasis in the New Valley which depend on aquifer.

• Specific projects in the fields of industry, mining and energy (it was agreed to establish a natural gas pipeline from Tobruk to Alexandria and to establish oil refinery Western Alexandria with a Libyan finance).

• Libya's contribution to the manufacture of fuel oil at Assuit Refinery.

• Projects in the fields of transport and infrastructure.

• Establishing joint free service and industrial zone from Marsa Matrouh till Tobruk.

• An offer to allocate lands in al-Qahira el-Gedida or in the 6th of October City to establish the city of al-Fatih like that of Sheikh Zayed.

• Libyan offer to settle 250.000 Egyptians.

• Legalizing the conditions of Egyptian workforce in Libya.

 

In March 2008, former Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis said he held talks with his Libyan counterpart Omran Abu Karaa on developing human, technical, financial and administrative resources.

 

This is in addition to developing the programs of training in Egypt in the fields of empowering and maintaining electrical projects. The two ministers also discussed electrical linkage project between the power grids in the two countries.

 

The two sides agreed to promote the volume of Libyan investments in Egypt to LE 3.15 billion in seven fields: industry, agriculture, financing, services, construction, tourism, IT and communications.

 

The tenth round of the Joint Higher Egyptian-Libyan Committee held in Cairo on July 3-4, 2008 tackled boosting economic relations between Egypt and Libya in all fields.

 

The recommendations of the Committee included boosting trade exchange, beefing up investments and setting up joint ventures in all service and production fields. This is in addition to the already signed programs between the two countries, including electricity, energy, health, oil, construction and building, food materials and clothes.

 

These programs have led to establishing five joint companies between Egypt and Libya to transfer natural gas to Libyan homes and factories. Egypt and Libya also established the first bank and insurance company to push forward investment.

 

Egypt and Libya also agreed to establish three joint companies operating on lands owned by the Holding Company for Tourism, Hotel and Cinema, affiliated to the Investment Ministry in the Red Sea, Alexandria and Giza.

Health Relations

On 16/3/2009, the Minister of Health signed cooperation agreement with his Libyan counterpart to train the Libyan doctors in Egypt and provide well-trained healthcare doctors to work in Libya. The Libyan minister said cooperation between Egypt and Libya would continue in the stage to come, particularly in the field of medicine.

 

 

Cultural Relations

On 1/8/ 2002, signing of a technology and scientific cooperation agreement.

On 18/5/2002, signing of a memorandum of understanding in the field of Islamic endowments.

On 28/3/2002, signing of an executive media cooperation program between the Egyptian Radio and Television Union and the Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation.

On 9/5/2001, signing of a cooperation agreement in the area of social care and caring for people with special needs.

On 22/2/1998, signing of an executive cooperation program was initialled between the Ministry of Social Affairs and Libya's Social Solidarity Fund (yet to be implemented).

In1998, an executive youth and sports cooperation program was concluded.

In 1991, an executive educational cooperation program in the field of was concluded, which offered 20 under-graduate and 20 post-graduate scholarships.

In 1990, a cultural agreement was signed between the two countries which forms the legal context of cultural and educational protocols.