The Government of National Unity (GNU) has ordered Egyptian intelligence officials stationed at the Egyptian Embassy in Tripoli to leave the country immediately.
The move comes just hours after Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly hosted a meeting in Cairo with Osama Hammad, the head of Libya's east-based parallel government, along with the son of Khalifa Haftar, Belgasem, a key military figure in eastern Libya.
The talks reportedly focused on the role of Egyptian companies in the reconstruction efforts in Libya, which has been a point of contention between the rival Libyan governments.
In response to the meeting, the GNU's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement expressing its "deep dissatisfaction and unequivocal rejection" of Egypt's decision to engage with what it described as "parallel entities that lack any international recognition."
The statement further criticized the Egyptian government for taking actions that, according to the GNU, threaten to exacerbate divisions within Libya and undermine efforts to maintain the country's unity and stability.
The Ministry highlighted that since its inception, it has worked diligently to overcome international polarization and maintain balanced relations with all nations involved in the Libyan crisis, particularly Egypt.
The GNU warned that unilateral actions like those taken by the Egyptian government could reignite local and regional tensions, holding Egypt responsible for any resulting escalation.
The statement underscored the importance of respecting national sovereignty, good neighbourly relations, and the unity of Libya and its legitimate institutions as fundamental principles for building strong diplomatic ties between nations.