Conflict within Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) has taken a new course after its head, Fayez Al-Sarraj, ordered the reorganization of the Special Deterrence Force away from the Interior Ministry.
The move removes the Force’s subordination to Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha.
On another note, the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel conveyed during a surprise visit to the Libyan city of Benghazi on Saturday a message of support from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the Libyan people on various military and political levels.
During his visit, Kamel met with the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar and the head of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh.
A number of issues of concern were discussed. This came within the framework of the Egyptian role in support of stabilizing the situation in Libya and preserving its capabilities and gains, a GIS statement said.
In Kamel and Haftar’s meeting, the statement said, emphasis was placed on the Egyptian efforts and moves in support of the outcomes of the 5+5 Military Commission meetings, which resulted in delaying the ceasefire and taking a number of measures that have contributed to stabilizing the military and security situation throughout Libya.
The 5+5 Joint Military Commission, which brings together five military officials from the eastern and western camps in the Libyan conflict, is one of the three tracks of the settlement process that emerged during the Berlin Conference on Libya in mid-January. It was subsequently adopted by the UN Security Council.
Moreover, Kamel met with Saleh along with a number of MPs, where he emphasized that Egypt “supports all tracks of a comprehensive settlement of the Libyan crisis” in coordination with the United Nations (UN) and the international community.
The head of Egypt’s GIS also discussed the latest developments in the political situation, as well as ways to advance and develop Egyptian-Libyan relations at all levels during the coming period, the statement noted.
