Marruecos reabre su consulado en Trípoli

After a decade of great political instability, as a result of the fall of the Gaddafi regime, economic crisis and the emergence of armed struggle between rival forces and against jihadist groups, in early 2021, Libya formed a National Unity Government with the objectives of unifying the competing administrations and holding democratic elections. The formation of the National Unity Government was supported by the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union.

Morocco has had a strong presence in Libya for many years. The African country played a fundamental role in bringing the Libyan parties together to put an end to the civil war, which ended with the conclusion of the political agreement known as the Skhirat Agreement. After the signing of the agreement, Morocco held further meetings within its territory to discuss the details of the implementation of the Skhirat Agreement, which was signed in the Moroccan city of Skhirat and supported by the United Nations. 

Due to the improvement of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Alawi kingdom wants to reopen the diplomatic institution of the consulate, after having been closed for several years, in the city of Tripoli. The reopening of the consulate would mark the culmination of Moroccan diplomatic institutions established in Libya. King Mohammed VI is playing a key role in Moroccan diplomacy and in establishing bilateral relations between the various states.

A Moroccan commission was in Tripoli to oversee the reopening of the consulate in the Libyan capital. "A delegation from the Kingdom of Morocco led by the head of Arab Maghreb Union Affairs at the Moroccan Foreign Ministry arrived in Tripoli on Saturday to prepare for the reopening of the Moroccan consulate in Tripoli," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"The visit was to pave the way for the reopening of the Moroccan Consulate in Tripoli after an eight-year closure," the Libyan Foreign Ministry statement said, stressing that the origin of the agreement between the two countries dates back to a meeting in Rabat in June last year between Foreign Minister Najla Al-Manqoush and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Likewise, at the end of last November in Rabat, there had already been a diplomatic rapprochement between the joint Libyan-Moroccan Consular Committee for the facilitation of visas for citizens of both countries.

Also, the good political and diplomatic relations between the two African countries were reflected in Libya's renunciation of its candidacy for membership of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council for the period 2022-2025 in favour of Morocco, as well as public support for the Alawi kingdom's candidacy. This renunciation in favour of Morocco was seen as a response to Morocco's continued support for democratic elections in Libya, but also a diplomatic act of great political connotation.  "The Libyan initiative demonstrates the importance of the place and the esteem in which Libyans hold Morocco. It is also a recognition of Rabat's efforts for a way out of the crisis for a unified Libya," according to the Machahid 24 news portal.

The reopening of the consulate represents the good bilateral relationship built between Rabat and Tripoli, as well as the cooperation between the two countries in political and economic matters. Morocco is positioning itself as a very remarkable country diplomatically, but above all it is consolidating itself as a great partner for both European and African states.