Spain reopens its embassy in Libya
The move constituted another diplomatic win for Libya's transitional government ahead of elections in December.
The Spanish Embassy in Libya reopened June 3. Libya’s head of government said during a press conference marking the occasion that the country is experiencing a historic moment.
“We are witnessing a new stage in Libya of stability after years of war and destruction,” Abdulhamid Dbeibah said. He thanked Spain for “supporting Libya’s democratic transition.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Libya to reopen its embassy and resume bilateral relations between the two countries. Spain closed its embassy in the capital Tripoli in 2014 at the start of the Libyan civil war, moving its Libya mission to neighboring Tunisia.
Libya’s civil war ended last October with a cease-fire between the Government of National Accord in Tripoli and the eastern-based Libyan National Army led by strongman Khalifa Hifter. A transitional government headed by Dbeibah took office in March and elections are scheduled for December. Libya had been in chaos since the 2011 NATO-led intervention against longtime ruler Moammar Ghadafi during a national uprising.
