Morocco to reopen its consulate in Libya after eight-year closure

A Moroccan diplomatic delegation arrived on Sunday in Libya to reopen Rabat's consulate in the war-torn country, following eight years of closure, Libya’s ministry of foreign affairs has said.

The consulate will begin work by granting visas to Libyan citizens following a June 2021 agreement between Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs Najla Al-Manqous and her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita.

Moroccan diplomatic delegations left Tripoli in 2014 amid an escalating armed conflict between Libyan political factions.

"A delegation from the Kingdom of Morocco arrived in the capital, Tripoli, headed by the head of the affairs of the Arab Maghreb Union at the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and includes several senior officials of the ministry, to prepare for the reopening of the Moroccan consulate in Tripoli after an eight-year closure," the ministry said on its official Facebook page.

The Moroccan move came after a number of other countries - including France, Spain and Algeria - announced last year they will resume diplomatic activities in Tripoli, citing "relative political recovery" in Libya.

It followed years of fighting in Libya between rival governments, as well as a the proliferation of extremists such as the Islamic State group. 

Rabat played a prominent role in the Libya peace process, hosting several rounds of dialogue between the conflicting parties.

Morocco was also a key player in mediating the Skhirat Agreement in December 2015, which saw progress on the reunification of the seven political factions in Libya.

It also hosted meetings between the delegations of the Supreme Council of State and the House of Representatives on the election law in September 2021.