Lead:
Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aati held multiple meetings in Tripoli on November 7, 2026, addressing maritime boundary demarcation with Libya, bilateral energy projects, and reaffirming Egypt's stance against Palestinian displacement. The visit coincided with the 22nd ordinary session of the Sahel and Sahara States Union executive council, where regional security and counterterrorism coordination also featured prominently. The diplomatic engagement signals Cairo's effort to resolve long-standing bilateral issues while strengthening economic ties across energy and infrastructure sectors.
Details:
According to reporting from El Balad, Abdel Aati met with Libya's oil and gas minister Khalifa Al Sadiq to accelerate bilateral energy cooperation. The discussion covered expediting joint gas pipeline projects, petroleum product collaboration, completion of Libyan oil refining operations in Egypt with subsequent export capability, rehabilitation of Libyan refineries, and power grid interconnection between the two nations. Al Sadiq reciprocated Libya's commitment to deepening energy integration, indicating both sides view energy infrastructure as a priority development avenue.
On the maritime demarcation file, El Balad reported that official spokesperson Nader Zaki revealed the foreign minister raised the 2019 memorandum of understanding concerning maritime boundary delimitation. Zaki stated Abdel Aati confirmed Cairo's consistent position during negotiations with Libyan counterparts, framing the discussion within broader efforts to resolve outstanding bilateral issues through dialogue and consultation. The talks did not announce new agreements but reaffirmed Egypt's framework for addressing the matter.
Abdel Aati also convened with the UN Special Envoy to Libya, Hana Titeh, on November 7 at the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli, per El Balad's account. The foreign minister additionally met members of Egypt's diaspora community in Libya, pledging attention to Egyptian nationals' concerns and instructing diplomatic staff to improve consular services delivery, including digital transformation of administrative processes and faster resolution of cases involving Egyptian doctors and students.
At the Sahel and Sahara Union council session, Sudan's delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Muawiya Othman Khaled, called on member states to classify the Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist organization, according to El Balad reporting. Sudan framed the motion within broader regional security challenges and the need for coordinated counter-terrorism action across the bloc.
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