Italy says France has no interest in Libya's stability

Head of the Libyan Presidency Council, Fayez Al-Sarraj, and Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, head of the Libyan National Army met with French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on 25 July, 2017 [Philippe Wojazer/Reuters]

France has no interest in restoring calm to war-torn Libya, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Monday.

“In Libya, France has no interest in stabilising the situation, probably because it has oil interests that are opposed to those of Italy,” Salvini told a local TV channel.

A war of words continued between Rome and Paris this week.

Earlier on Monday, the French Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian Ambassador to France, Teresa Castaldo, to protest remarks made by Italian Deputy Prime Minister, Luigi Di Maio, who accused France of “impoverishing Africa” and escalating the refugee crisis.

The office of France’s Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, said on Monday that the Italian ambassador has been summoned following unacceptable and unjustified statements made by Italian officials.

Libya turns into battleground between France and Italy

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