UK, French and Spanish ambassadors arrive in Libya

The ambassadors of Britain, France and Spain arrived in the Libyan capital on Thursday to support the new unity government seeking to end the country’s turmoil.

French ambassador Antoine Sivan, British envoy Peter Millet and Spain’s Jose Antonio Bordallo arrived at Mitiga airport, Tripoli; before heading to the naval base where the unity government has set up operations, AFP reports.

It is the first visit by the European envoys to Tripoli since European Union member states decided to close their embassies in mid 2014 because of unrest.

The Thee Ambassadors – #Tripoli #Libya #AFP pic.twitter.com/xMWP1pdyfI

— Mohamad Ali Harissi (@aleeharissi) April 14, 2016

World powers see the establishment of the unity cabinet as vital to tackling a raging jihadist insurgency and rampant people smuggling in the North African state.

The oil-rich country has had two rival administrations since mid-2014 when a militia alliance overran Tripoli, setting up its own authority and forcing the recognised parliament to flee to the remote east.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said during a visit to Libya on Tuesday that embassies would be reopened in the capital in “the near future.”

AFP