World · Africa · 2 hrs ago
Egypt reopens embassy in Tripoli as it seeks closer energy ties with Libya
Egypt reopened its embassy in Tripoli on Saturday, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty attending the ceremony.
The embassy had been closed for years; accounts differ on whether it shut in 2012 or 2014.
Libya remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, and Egypt had previously backed eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar.
The reopening signals a shift toward closer ties with Tripoli and comes as Egypt seeks to strengthen energy cooperation with Libya.
Proposed projects include a gas pipeline and refining Libyan oil in Egypt, as well as restoring Libyan refineries and electricity links.
Abdelatty said the aim is to begin technical work on the projects, but no schedule was given.
Egypt reopened its embassy in Tripoli on Saturday, marking renewed ties with Libya’s western-based administration.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty attended the reopening ceremony.
The embassy had been closed for years amid Libya’s conflict, but sources differ on whether it shut in 2012 or 2014.
Egypt had been a prominent backer of eastern-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Cairo is seeking to strengthen energy cooperation with Tripoli, including possible gas and oil projects.
- Who
- Egypt reopened its embassy. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty attended the ceremony.
- What
- Egypt reopened its embassy in Tripoli after a prolonged closure.
- When
- Saturday, November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Tripoli, the capital of Libya.
- Why
- The move marks a rapprochement with Libya’s western-based administration and reflects Egypt’s interest in rebuilding energy ties.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in a NATO-backed uprising, after which Libya was plunged into chaos.
Sources differ on when Egypt closed its Tripoli embassy: Africanews says 2012, while the Straits Times says 2014.
Egypt reopened its embassy in Tripoli at a ceremony attended by Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
- Embassy reopening
- Tripoli, Libya
- Reopening date
- November 7, 2026
- Foreign minister
- Badr Abdelatty
- Reported closure date
- 2012 (Africanews) or 2014 (Straits Times)
- Energy cooperation
- Proposed gas pipeline linking Libya to Egypt
3 sources
What people are saying
All we want now is to begin, on the technical level, the implementation phase
There are promising projects, particularly the laying of a gas pipeline linking Libya to Egypt, considering that Egypt is the only country in the eastern Mediterranean, in the southern Mediterranean, that possess the facilities required for the liquefaction of natural gas.
aligns with the deep-rooted human and cultural ties that characterize Egyptian-Libyan relations