Libya says no Arab Maghreb without Morocco and Mauritania

RABAT – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita received Tuesday the envoy of the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Sami El Menfi, bearer of a written message to King Mohammed VI from the President of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Younes El Menfi, confirming that “there is no Arab Maghreb without Morocco and Mauritania.”

Less than 24 hours after the consultative Arab Maghreb meeting called for by Tunisian President Kais Saied and attended Monday, by his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the head of the Libyan Presidential Council in the absence of Morocco and Mauritania, Tripoli quickly sent a written message to King Mohammed VI, expressing Libya’s commitment to reviving the Arab Maghreb Union bloc as it is the only framework for the Maghreb countries striving towards integration and achieving peoples’ aspirations for stability and prosperity.

The Libyan official’s visit to Rabat reaffirms the excellence of the brotherhood relations between Libya and Morocco, Ambassador Aboubaker Ibrahim Ataweel, Chargé d'Affaires at the Libyan Embassy in Morocco, told the press following this meeting.

In this regard, he expressed his country's thanks to Morocco for its continued and permanent support, under the leadership of the Sovereign, for the Libyan issue, which is evidenced by the various agreements concluded, notably in Skhirat, Bouznika and Tangier.

Morocco has actively contributed to settling the Libyan crisis and has provided its support for the conclusion of a series of agreements, he recalled, adding that the 2015 Skhirat agreement remains the cornerstone and a reference to settle the Libyan crisis.

This visit is also part of efforts aimed at strengthening the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) to meet the aspirations of the region’s people for greater stability and prosperity, the Libyan ambassador said, commending Morocco’s active role to promote Maghreb integration.