Egypt, as a neighbouring country, plays a “vital role” in stabilizing the situation in Libya, Saleh said in an interview with Egyptian news outlet Al-Qahera News on Tuesday.

 

“It is impossible for Egypt to abandon Libya, as this has never happened in the past, present, or future,” he noted.

 

Saleh added that “the Libyan and Egyptian people are linked by religion, kinship, neighbourly relations, historical positions, common borders, and common national security concerns.” 

 

The head of the HoR expressed his hope that Egypt will deal with the government agreed upon between the HoR and the Tripoli-based High State Council (HSC) as this will encourage other states to recognize it. 

 

Salah noted that the legitimate government should be formed as per an agreement between the HoR and HSC as per the constitutional declaration and political consensus.

 

The Libyan people seek an election, as agreed upon between the various Libyan factions, as this is the only solution for the country, which has been split between two camps in the east and west for years.

 

Saleh asserted that elections will end the power struggle, and form a single government with a single president to represent Libya at home and abroad.

 

In August, the Libyan Presidential Council and House of Representatives reached an agreement during a meeting in Benghazi to accelerate progress towards long-awaited presidential and parliamentary elections.

 

Libya elections, which had been due in December 2021, have been postponed several times due to disagreements between rival factions.

 

Both the HoR and HSC seek to replace the interim government in Tripoli – headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah – before any national vote, arguing that its mandate expired along with its scheduled elections. 

 

However, Dbeibah has vowed not to cede his office until after an election.

 

In recent months, both councils have been negotiating over the electoral laws that will stipulate who is allowed to run for office.

 

In October, the HoR approved presidential and legislative election laws.

Egypt has hosted several rounds of talks with the Libyan rivals to reach a consensus on the Libyan draft constitution. It has also hosted several rounds of talks between the 5+5 Libyan Joint Military Commission to unify Libya’s Armed Forces.