Egypt Reopens Embassy in Tripoli after 12-Year Closure

TRIPOLI (Xinhua) — Egypt reopened its embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli on Saturday at its main headquarters, ending a closure that began in 2014 amid security tensions in the country, according to the Libyan News Agency.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty inaugurated the embassy building after arriving in Tripoli earlier in the day, alongside Libyan Acting Foreign Minister Taher al-Baour, the news agency reported, citing a statement on the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s Facebook page.

Speaking at the ceremony, Abdelatty said the reopening carried historical and diplomatic significance, adding that the historic building would take on a renewed role, linking heritage with present needs and future aspirations.

Libya’s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity said in a statement that the move represents “a step reflecting the development of bilateral relations between the two countries.”

The reopening comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Libya and Egypt, with officials discussing ways to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various fields.

Since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been split between the UN-recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli and the eastern administration backed by the Libyan National Army.