Egypt, Algeria Agree to Intensity Joint Coordination to Restore Libya's Security, Stability

Government of National Accord (GNA) military graduates during a graduation ceremony. (AFP)
Government of National Accord (GNA) military graduates during a graduation ceremony. (AFP)
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Egypt, Algeria Agree to Intensity Joint Coordination to Restore Libya's Security, Stability

Government of National Accord (GNA) military graduates during a graduation ceremony. (AFP)
Government of National Accord (GNA) military graduates during a graduation ceremony. (AFP)

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune agreed to intensify joint coordination during the coming period between the two countries to restore security and stability to Libya.

This came in a phone call during which Sisi congratulated Tebboune on his recovery from the coronavirus, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Radi said in a statement Thursday.

The two leaders further discussed several regional issues, namely the Libyan crisis.

The spokesman said that Sisi reviewed the ongoing efforts made by Egypt within the framework of the political track of the crisis in Libya.

The two leaders also tackled ways of enhancing bilateral ties to fight the spread of the pandemic and impose precautionary measures through the exchange of experiences between the concerned agencies in both countries.

For his part, Tebboune affirmed Algeria's strong ties with Egypt at the official and popular levels, lauding Cairo’s efforts in various issues, given its pivotal political role at the regional and international levels.

Meanwhile, forces of the Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Fayez al-Sarraj, are preparing for joint military exercises with Turkey.

GNA’s Defense Minister Salah al-Nimroush, accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant-General Mohammed al-Haddad, visited al-Khoms Naval Base in preparation for the implementation of the joint training programs.

The media office of the “Volcano of Rage” operation reported the visit, noting that the drills will be executed within the training program of the Turkish army, as part of the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya on military and security cooperation.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.