Egypt thwarts attempt to cross border into Libya

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi meets with Commander of the Libyan national army Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, in Cairo, Egypt, on 13 May 2017 [Egyptian President Office/Apaimages]

The security services of the Matrouh province, in the northwest of Egypt, have foiled an attempt by 309 Egyptians to cross the country’s western border into Libya, the state-run Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.

General Khalifa Haftar taking over Libya – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]

The citizens were crossing the Sallum desert and were found in an area where civilians are only allowed access with permission from authorities.

An investigation into the incident is now being launched, MENA added.

The Egyptian government has been putting in place numerous economic measures across various sectors to help revive the country’s battered economy.

These include a reduction of subsidies which have negatively impacted residents and increased the cost of living leaving people fleeing the country in search of a better standard of life.

Hundreds have died in their attempt to cross the sea into Europe while others have attempted to cross into Libya where the current state of chaos, a result of the ongoing civil war, has led to the country becoming a transit point for illegal migration.

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