Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabri Boukadoum assured, on Monday, July 13, that there was a " common " will of Algeria and Tunisia to respect the unity of Libya, during a visit to Tunis which was an opportunity to discuss the conflict tearing apart their common neighbor. Algiers is trying to relaunch regional mediation between rival camps in Libya in a conflict that threatens regional stability against a backdrop of growing foreign involvement.
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" The common will, Algerian and Tunisian, is good, " assured Mr. Boukadoum in front of the press after his meeting with his Tunisian counterpart Nourredine Erray. " We have no petroleum, economic interests, nor views on Libyan wealth ", he added, claiming to put priority on " stability and respect for Libyan unity, territorial unity and the decision-making unit ”.
Libya has been torn apart since 2015 between two powers, each with foreign support: the Government of National Union (GNA), recognized by the UN and based in Tripoli, and a power embodied by the strong man of the East, Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
"A real role for Tunisia and Algeria"
The Tunisian authorities have recently displayed a disunited front but traditionally observe a neutral position on the conflict in Libya. Erray said he is studying " operational proposals " that could lead to " a real dialogue with a real role for Tunisia and Algeria ", deploring the fact that many regional questions " are being dealt with outside the Arab home ".
Mr. Boukadoum also met with Tunisian President Kais Saied, the opportunity to " reaffirm the importance of continuing coordination between Tunisia and Algeria (...) in order to help the Libyan brothers to achieve a cease-fire fire, "said the presidency.
This visit, the second in Tunisia of Mr. Boukadoum since his appointment in March 2019, also participates in " the preparation of the (first) state visit of the president (Abdelmadjid Tebboune) planned in Tunisia, " said the Algerian ministry of foreign affairs in a statement. Tunisian President Kais Saied, elected in October 2019, had reserved his first official visit to Algeria.