Egypt’s FM stresses need for withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign forces from Libya

CAIRO – 21 May 2026: Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad, Badr Abdelatty, received Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), on Thursday.

The meeting included an assessment of the outcomes of ongoing contacts aimed at resolving the Libyan crisis.

Minister Abdelatty affirmed Egypt’s support for the steps taken by the UN mission, emphasizing the importance of holding presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously, as well as the immediate withdrawal of foreign forces, mercenaries and foreign fighters from Libya to help restore the country’s sovereignty.

During the meeting, the foreign minister highlighted the paramount importance Egypt attaches to Libya’s stability, stressing that Libya’s security is an integral part of Egyptian national security.

He reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for Libya’s unity and territorial integrity, emphasizing that any political settlement must be based on the principle of exclusive Libyan ownership in order to enable national institutions to fulfill their role and meet the aspirations of the Libyan people for stability and development.

For her part, the UN envoy praised the close cooperation between Egypt and the UN mission, commending Cairo’s hosting of the tripartite neighboring countries mechanism meetings and the regional support it provides for stability.

She also affirmed the UN’s commitment to continuing coordination with Egypt to ensure the success of the political process and to consolidate peace and security throughout Libya.