Tunisia has reopened its consulate in the Libyan capital, the Libya foreign ministry said on Saturday, the latest mission to return to Tripoli.

 Most embassies left Tripoli in 2014 when heavy fighting broke out between rival factions and few came back when a UN-backed administration took office in 2016.

 The Tunisian consulate resumed work after talks between the two countries, the Libyan foreign ministry said. The Tunisian foreign ministry declined to comment, but a diplomatic source confirmed the move.

 Tunisian had closed its mission 2015 after ten staff were kidnapped. In recent weeks some Western embassies have sent diplomats for longer stays to Tripoli as security has improved, although few stay full time on the ground.

 The Italian and Turkish embassies as well as the UN mission are among the few open. Tripoli is formally run by a Government of National Accord backed by the UN but in reality controlled by a patchwork of armed groups.—Agencies </s> Tunisia has reopened its consulate in the Libyan capital, the Libya foreign ministry said on Saturday, the latest mission to return to Tripoli.

The Tunisian consulate resumed work after talks between the two countries, the Libyan foreign ministry said. The Tunisian foreign ministry declined to comment, but a diplomatic source confirmed the move. </s> TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Tunisia has reopened its consulate in the Libyan capital, the Libya foreign ministry said on Saturday, the latest mission to return to Tripoli.

Most embassies left Tripoli in 2014 when heavy fighting broke out between rival factions and few came back when a U.N.-backed administration took office in 2016.

The Tunisian consulate resumed work after talks between the two countries, the Libyan foreign ministry said. The Tunisian foreign ministry declined to comment, but a diplomatic source confirmed the move.

Tunisian had closed its mission 2015 after ten staff were kidnapped.

In recent weeks some Western embassies have sent diplomats for longer stays to Tripoli as security has improved, although few stay full time on the ground.

The Italian and Turkish embassies as well as the U.N. mission are among the few open.

Tripoli is formally run by a Government of National Accord backed by the U.N. but in reality controlled by a patchwork of armed groups.

Big street clashes between rival groups have ended, but several rockets which hit Tripoli airport this week were a reminder that security remains shaky.

The U.N has been trying to meditate to produce a national government and end the rift between the administration in Tripoli and a rival one in the east, part of a conflict gripping the oil producer since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. </s> On March 22, the U.S. Embassy Libya External Office, based in Tunis, and the Libya Local Investment & Development Fund (LLIDF) co-hosted a U.S.-Libya commercial roundtable, bringing together representatives of U.S. companies to learn about LLIDF’s priorities on private sector investment to advance shared interests in creating essential infrastructure and diversifying Libya’s economy. This is the first such event organized by the United States in almost four years. Representatives from American companies such as Bechtel, Caterpillar, G.E., G.E. Health, Whispering Bell, and Hill International attended the event in Tunis. In addition, two trade organizations representing many U.S. firms participated in the event, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Libya based in Tripoli, and the U.S. Libya-Business Association, based in Washington, D.C.

The LLIDF is a private company under Libyan law established in 2009.

The U.S. Embassy Libya’s Deputy Chief of Mission Natalie Baker thanked LLIDF Chief Executive Officer Bader Ben-Othman and the LLIDF for hosting the event. “We are so pleased that everyone could join us in what we hope is the first in a series of events that will expand the economic ties between the United States and Libya,” said DCM Baker. “The State Department and the Libya External Office are here to support U.S. firms as they seek to expand into new markets – and, just as importantly, we are sure the knowledge and expertise you bring can help Libya tackle some of its biggest development challenges.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of U.S. Embassy in Libya. </s> On March 22, the U.S. Embassy Libya External Office, based in Tunis, and the Libya Local Investment & Development Fund (LLIDF) co-hosted a U.S.-Libya commercial roundtable, bringing together representatives of U.S. companies to learn about LLIDF’s priorities on private sector investment to advance shared interests in creating essential infrastructure and diversifying Libya’s economy. This is […]

On March 22, the U.S. Embassy Libya External Office, based in Tunis, and the Libya Local ...



Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... </s> The embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Syrian capital of Damascus has reopened with the UAE flag being raised again, for the first time in more than seven years.

The reopening of the embassy marks the first state of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to resume diplomatic work in Syria.

Abdul-Hakim al-Nuami, the UAE charge d’affaires, was cited by the pro-government Sham FM radio as saying that the return of the UAE embassy is a prelude to the return of other Arab embassies to Syria.

The Iraqi and Sudanese ambassadors as well as diplomats from the Tunisian and Algerian embassies showed up at the UAE embassy where an opening ceremony took place inside.

All Gulf states had closed their embassies in Damascus after the Syrian crisis erupted in 2011. </s> New Delhi, Apr 07: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that India has evacuated its entire contingent of peacekeeping forces comprising 15 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from Tripoli after the situation there "suddenly worsened".

Taking to Twitter, Swaraj described the situation,''The situation in Libya has suddenly worsened. There is fighting in Tripoli. Indian Embassy in Tunisia @IndiainTunisia has evacuated the entire contingent of 15 CRPF personnel yesterday itself. I appreciate the excellent work by the Indian Embassy in Tunisia. #Libya.''

She said "Indian Ambassador in Tunisia has the concurrent charge of Libya. CRPF contingent is deployed as the Peacekeeping force in Tripoli."

Sushma Swaraj also put out the phone numbers of the officials that should be contacted by Indians in Tripoli. She tweeted, "All Indians in distress in Tripoli may please contact Mr.Mehtab on +218916320278 or Mr.Mustafa on +218924201771 or +218912146640."

This came after Eastern Libyan Army Commander Khalifa Hafter on Thursday ordered his forces, the Libyan National Army (LNA), to take over Tripoli - the capital of the United Nations-backed government - amid reports of escalating political tension in Libya.

Haftar has since been accused of violating political agreements concluded under the United Nations by Fayez Sarraj, the Prime Minister of the Tripoli-based UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).

Even though a deal was signed in 2015 which created the GNA as the legitimate interim Libyan government, it was not wholly implemented due to disagreements with the Tobruk-based parliament.

Stay up to date with our election coverage here </s> The embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will reopen in Damascus on Thursday afterafter closing as a result of the war, a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik. "The UAE embassy in Damascus will reopen in the second half of the day," the source said.The final preparations for the opening of the diplomatic mission are underway, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene. The embassy building was renovated earlier this week.The UAE is the first Arab country to restore the work of its embassy in Syria. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad said earlier that Damascus welcomed the resumption of work of Arab countries' embassies in Syria. </s> Syria says UAE will reopen Damascus embassy closed in 2011

BEIRUT (AP) — Syria says the United Arab Emirates will reopen its embassy in Damascus for the first time in seven years.

The Information Ministry gave no further details other than inviting journalists to cover the event at the embassy in central Damascus later Thursday.

The UAE recalled its ambassador from Syria in 2011 after the start of the popular uprising against President Bashar Assad. The Syrian Embassy in the UAE remained open.

The reopening of the embassy comes after the Dec. 16 visit to Damascus by Sudan's President Omar Bashir, who became the first Arab head of state to visit Syria since the civil war began.

Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League in 2011. Arab countries have sanctioned Damascus and condemned its use of military force against the opposition.
Tunisia reopens its embassy in Tripoli, Libya. The embassy has been closed since the kidnap of ten staff in 2015.