Libya and Iraq Revive Joint Committee After 25-Year Hiatus

Libya’s acting foreign minister Taher al-Baour led a high-level delegation to Baghdad to co-chair the first meeting of the Iraqi-Libyan Joint Committee since its last session in 2001. The committee, dormant for 25 years, was relaunched to create a formal framework for cooperation across political, economic, development, health, education and security sectors. The meetings, held over two days, concluded with an agreement to pursue several memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

Baghdad hosts Iraqi-Libyan Joint Committee meetings after 25-year hiatus Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties Iraq and Libya to revive joint committee after 25 years

The joint committee was first established in 2000, with an inaugural session in Tripoli followed by a second meeting in 2001. Its activities were suspended after the 2003 U.S.–led invasion of Iraq and the 2011 collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s government in Libya. Both states have since endured prolonged internal conflict and political fragmentation, which disrupted regular diplomatic channels. Renewed talks aim to restore institutional ties that pre-date these crises.

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

• Taher al-Baour – Acting foreign minister of Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU).

Baghdad hosts Iraqi-Libyan Joint Committee meetings after 25-year hiatus

• Fuad Hussein – Foreign minister of Iraq.

Iraq and Libya to revive joint committee after 25 years

• Ali al-Zaidi – Prime minister of Iraq, who received the Libyan delegation and a written message from Libyan Prime minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

• 2024 (early) – Virtual expert meetings organized by Libya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to finalize trade agreements with Iraq.

Baghdad hosts Iraqi-Libyan Joint Committee meetings after 25-year hiatus

• 2024 (Sunday-Monday) – Physical meeting in Baghdad; joint committee reconvened after a 25-year break.

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

• The joint committee was inactive for 25 years (2001-2024).

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

• Iraq’s embassy reported locating 36 Iraqi migrants in Libya and arranging their voluntary return, after previously repatriating 352 individuals.

Iraq and Libya to revive joint committee after 25 years

• Hussein affirmed Iraq’s support for Libya’s unity and sovereignty, rejected foreign interference, and pledged coordination on OPEC+ oil market stability.

Iraq and Libya to revive joint committee after 25 years

• “Our relationship with Iraq is longstanding, and the two countries share many common issues,” — Al-Baour, acting foreign minister

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

Both ministries indicated that the revived committee will serve as a channel for signing MoUs covering trade, investment, health, education and security. Iraqi Prime minister al-Zaidi invited the Libyan leadership to visit Libya “at the earliest possible opportunity,” suggesting further high-level exchanges and coordinated positions in regional and international forums.

Libya, Iraq revive long-dormant joint committee to deepen ties

No source provided divergent accounts of the meeting’s outcomes or specific timelines for the pending MoUs, leaving the exact schedule for implementation unclear.

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