Skip to main content

Libyan presidential candidate makes campaign stop in DC

Officials meeting on the sidelines of an Africa summit in Washington discuss the deteriorating security situation in Libya, while a Libyan businessman networks to run for president back home.
A fighter from Zintan brigade watches as smoke rises after rockets fired by one of Libya's militias struck and ignited a fuel tank in Tripoli August 2, 2014. On Saturday, sporadic shelling resumed in the capital after two days of relative calm. Plumes of black smoke rose over the south of Tripoli from a burning fuel tank at the airport's fuel depot. REUTERS/Hani Amara (LIBYA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR411E4

Among the topics for discussion on the sidelines of this week’s Africa summit in Washington was the deteriorating situation in Libya, where militants have declared an “Islamic emirate” in the eastern city of Benghazi and are battling secular and tribal rivals in the capital, Tripoli.

Libyan interim Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni had a series of high-level meetings with Barack Obama administration officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of US Africa Command. Representatives from the United States, Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia issued a joint statement on Aug. 6 expressing “deep concern about the political and security challenges facing Libya and the impact of these challenges across North Africa and the Sahel region.” They called on “all parties in Libya to adopt an immediate ceasefire and to undertake negotiations to address the country’s security and stability needs.”

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.