By Libya Herald staff.
Tunis, 27 August 2017:
The Presidency Council’s foreign minister, Mohamed Siala, and his Sudanese counterpart, Ibrahim Ghandour, today signed a memorandum establishing a political consultation committee between the two countries. The signing took place in the presence of Faiez Serraj and Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.
It is Serraj’s first visit to Sudan as head of the Presidency Council. Bashir met him at the airport on arrival this morning.
During talks, Serraj and Bashir discussed security and economic cooperation. Security focussed not only on the situation in Libya but also on its impact on Sudan – both in terms of Sudanese opposition using Libya as a base and fighting there as mercenaries, and also people-trafficking between Sudan and Libya.
“We are affected directly by the insecurity in Libya, which has made it expensive for us to fight human trafficking, illegal immigration and cross-border crimes,” said Bashir at a press conference after the talks.
Bashir also said that the two sides had agreed that Sudan should work to help achieve stability and security in Libya.
“We have no agenda in Libya other than the unity of Libya and the interest of the Libyan people so that they can enjoy stability,” he said.
For his part, Serraj also divulged added that the border had been one of the issues debated.
“We discussed during the talks the importance of securing the border between the two countries and activating [existing] agreements.”
Talk about the border, however, was largely symbolic. There are no forces linked to the Presidency Council near the border with Sudan. Forces in south-east Libya are part of the Libyan National Army led by Kahlifa Hafter and back the Beida-based government of Abdullah Al-Thinni, which is hostile to Sudan. It has accused Khartoum of collaborating with Qatar and supporting terrorism in Libya. Last month it ordered Sudanese consulate staff out of Kufra.
Following his talks with Bashir, Serraj had talks with Sudan’s Prime Minister, Bakri Hassan Saleh, at which it was agreed to set up joint technical committees to review and activate existing agreements between the two countries. He later met with members of the Libyan community in Sudan.
AIn addition to foreign minister Mohamed Siala, Serraj is accompanied by the PC’s education minister, Abdel Jalil Otman.
