Mohamed al-Menfi, Chairman of the Presidential Council of Libya, expressed his country's reliance on the support and assistance of Russia and African nations in facilitating the withdrawal of foreign troops from Libyan territory. He conveyed this message during the plenary session of the second Russia-Africa summit.
"We earnestly appeal to our friends in the Russian leadership and our friends in African countries to assist us in withdrawing all foreign troops from our territory," he urged.
The head of the Presidential Council brought to attention that in the aftermath of the truce, the paramount focus of the Libyan leadership lies in surmounting national divisions and fostering the creation of unified armed forces. "These cohesive forces will serve as a reliable pillar in upholding peace and tranquility, while addressing the urgent tasks that confront our nation," he added.
"Recent developments in brotherly Niger are extremely worrying for us, and we are deeply concerned about the situation in that country," al-Menfi stated.
The head of the Libyan Presidential Council highlighted that "strengthening cooperation with the Russian Federation aligns with the core principles of the African continental agenda, aiming at effective development and fostering equitable relations between African nations and the global community." In this context, he expressed criticism towards certain Western practices, which strive to maintain dominance in Africa, obstruct reforms, and exert pressure through financial indebtedness, leading to economic devastation, increased poverty, and hardship.
"We are determined to transform the paradigm of cooperation with Western partners and advocate for fair prices for our natural resources. We will stand against the imposition of burdensome loans and credits on African nations, which encroach upon our national budgets and hinder our steady progress and development," Al-Menfi emphasized. "We call upon the United Nations to adopt a realistic approach to addressing our challenges. At the same time, Libya acknowledges its share of responsibility and is prepared to share its natural resources for the greater benefit of the global community."
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS