Turkey reopened its embassy in Libya’s capital Tripoli on Monday after a closure of almost three years due to the security situation in the country, the foreign ministry said.

The embassy has been closed since July 2014 but preparations to reopen the mission had been supervised in recent months by Turkey’s ambassador to Libya, Ahmet Aydin, who until now had been based in Tunis.

“As a result, activities of the Turkish embassy in Tripoli have resumed today Monday with a reduced staff at the initial stage,” the ministry said in a statement.

While Turkey closed its embassy in Tripoli and consulate in Benghazi in 2014, its consulate in Misrata has remained open.

“The reopening of the embassy will allow Turkey to make stronger contributions to efforts to build peace and stability, as well as reconstruction in Libya,” the ministry said

Turkey had high hopes for a strong alliance with Libya after the 2011 ouster of longtime strongman Moamer Kadhafi and was the first country to appoint an ambassador to the new authorities in Tripoli in September 2011.

Source: AFP