Egypt to take part in Libya conference in Rome Sunday

Egypt is to participate Sunday in the international ministerial-level conference on Libya held in Italy’s Rome, state news agency MENA reported.

Italy and the United States called for this conference to work with Libyan factions to sign as soon as possible an agreement to form a national unity government to combat the Islamic State group, Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni recently said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said last week that the Libyan parliament should ratify a political agreement reached in July before the end of this year, “so we wouldn’t have to look into alternative plans that might meet resistance from some of the Libyan factions.”

This political agreement, reached in Morocco’s Sikhra City, stipulates the goal of a peaceful political transition and establishing a national unity government.

Libya currently has two governments, only one of which is internationally recognised, fighting for control of the country, while Islamic State militants are attempting to exploit the security gap.

Libya’s Tripoli-based government, which is not recognised globally, seized partial power a year ago after an armed faction forced the recognised government and parliament to operate out of eastern Libya.