The Egyptian foreign ministry Friday expressed Egypt’s support for Marshal Khalifa Haftar as it welcomed the Libyan army veteran’s takeover of the Libyan oil crescent, controlled by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).
Haftar’s forces [Libyan National Army] had snatched Libya’s main oil terminals from the GNA causing frustration in the west.
Washington and its European allies condemned the takeover calling Haftar’s forces to immediately withdraw.
Haftar and his political wing, the House of Representatives (HoR), based in Tobruk said they handed the oil ports to the unified National Oil Corporation.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, speaking to Egyptian state-owned MENA agency called Haftar’s move “legitimate as it secures the country’s oil wealth and preserves stability and security.”
The Egyptian top diplomat also stressed Cairo’s support for the LNA while chiding the west’s condemnation, which, he said, was “overhasty.”
Egypt has repeatedly thrown its backing behind the LNA while calling on political protagonists to stick to the political agreement signed in Morocco, in December.
Haftar, who rose to the rank of Marshal following last week-end action, said in a recent interview with Russian Sputnik that he was receiving support from Egypt and Chad.
