Libya keen to resume normal ties with African countries: PM

TRIPOLI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj said Wednesday that improved conditions in Libya will contribute to the return of normal relations between Libya and African countries.

Serraj made his remarks here during a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama.

According to the media office of the prime minister, the meeting discussed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries against illegal immigration, where the two officials agreed for coordination directly and through the African Union.

"The two officials stressed the importance of the decisions of the Euro-African summit in Abidjan, and the joint action to dismantle smuggling and human trafficking networks," the office said in a statement.

Onyeama and Serraj agreed to repatriate illegal Nigerian immigrants from Libya, the statement confirmed.

"The two officials also discussed economic cooperation. The prime minister welcomed the proposal of organizing an economic forum for businessmen and economic experts in both countries," the statement revealed.

Due to the insecurity and chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Gaddafi's regime, Libya became a departure point for illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, wanting to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores.

An official of the International Organization for Migration on Tuesday told Xinhua that more than 19,000 illegal immigrants have been voluntarily departed from Libya in 2017. Enditem