France’s ambassador to Libya, Béatrice Le Fraper du Hellen, said Monday that work to secure the French embassy in Libya, which is reopening today at the behest of Emmanuel Macron, is six months behind schedule.
Africa Intelligence said Ambassador du Hellen would be wearing a hardhat and a bulletproof vest Monday as she reopens the French embassy in Tripoli’s Janzour district, after its seven-year relocation to Tunis.
“But the inauguration is largely for show, since it will take at least six months for AEIM (Application Electronique Industrielle Moderne) to finish the job of securing the building.” The French intelligence website indicated.
It added that AEIM won the contract in 2018 but had to leave Tripoli following April 4th Khalifa Haftar’s attack on Tripoli.
“In the interim, the ambassador and her staff will travel back and forth between the new embassy, its temporary premises in the Peacock hotel, and their homes in the secure Palm City compound in Tripoli.” The website explained.
The French website further explained that the reopening of the embassy, announced by President Emmanuel Macron on 23 March, should allow Paris to stay in the loop during Libya’s political transition.
“It is hoped that February’s UN-driven formation of Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah’s national unity government will lead to a reunification of national political and financial institutions and huge reconstruction contracts.” Africa Intelligence added.
