Post Muammar Ghadafi’s Libya Seeks Renewed Ties With Liberia
Monrovia – Liberia which cut off ties with Libya in the midst of former President Muammar Ghadafi’s fall, has received an approach from the current government looking to re-established ties with Liberia.
On Tuesday, the Government of the State of Libya expressed its desire to restore full diplomatic ties with Liberia and reopen its Embassy in Monrovia. This would be immediately followed by the resumption of all projects that were underway by the Libyan Government before the crisis in that country.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, Ambassador Mustafa Maatug made the disclosure during a courtesy call on Acting Foreign Minister Mr. B. Elias Shoniyin on Tuesday, May 10, 2016.
Ambassador Maatug said the reopening of the State of Libya’s Embassy near Monrovia is pursuant to the joint communiqué of July 16, 2012 between the two countries on the side-lines of the 19th African Union Summit declaring, the willingness to reopen diplomatic relations as soon as possible.
He thanked the Liberian government for all the support his country has received from Liberia during its crisis. The Libyan Ambassador later presented a Note Verbale to the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shoniyin.
Liberia severed diplomatic ties with Libya in June 2011 joining a wave of African countries to draw a distance itself from Gaddafi since a NATO-backed uprising against him.
“The Government took the decision after a careful review of the situation in Libya and determined that the Government of Colonel Gaddafi has lost the legitimacy to govern Libya,” the statement from Sirleaf’s office said at the time. “The violence against the Libyan people must stop,” it said of its decision to withdraw the Liberian envoy from Tripoli and suspend activities of the Libyan representation in the Liberian capital Monrovia.
At the time, Sirleaf said the ties could be resumed when “the people of Libya reach a political settlement which offers the best hope of lasting peace”.
Libya has a $30 million project to promote local production of rice in Liberia, while a Libyan company is involved in the renovation of Monrovia’s Ducor Hotel, the largest in the country and one of the few five-star hotels in Africa. However local officials said both projects were already at a standstill.
On Tuesday, Acting Minister Shoniyin extolled the cordial and cherished relations subsisting between Liberia and the State of Libya over the years and expressed sympathy for the ongoing carnage that engulfed the country over the last few years. He hoped that the country and people can pursue an agenda that will ensure peace and stability.
“Our government has been watching very closely developments unfolding in Libya and have been praying and join countries of like minds to pursue an agenda to ensure total peace and stability in your country,” Acting Foreign Minister Shoniyin said welcoming the Libyan envoy to Liberia.