Libya's Benghazi Chamber updates map to include Morocco's southern regions

The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Benghazi said Thursday it has corrected and updated a map displayed at its headquarters after previously showing Morocco without its southern regions.

The chamber said the update reflects the geographic and political reality of the Moroccan Sahara, which is recognized internationally as part of Morocco under United Nations resolutions and global diplomatic acknowledgments.

The move comes amid efforts to strengthen ties between Libya and Morocco. The updated map was unveiled during a meeting between Libya’s Foreign Minister in the interim government, Abdelhadi Al-Hweij, and Morocco’s consul general in Benghazi, Said Benkirane.

The meeting was attended by Monem Saaiti, head of the Benghazi Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and Muhannad Ramadan, the chamber’s general manager.

A statement from the chamber said the meeting highlighted “the depth of historical and fraternal relations” between Libya and Morocco. It added that the two sides discussed ways to boost trade, investment and economic cooperation, including partnerships in commerce, industry and agriculture.

The chamber said officials also discussed measures to support joint economic initiatives and streamline procedures to increase bilateral trade and open new avenues of cooperation.

Monem Saaiti, the chamber’s chairman, emphasized that the strength of ties between Libya and Morocco “is greater than any attempts to harm these distinguished relations,” and reiterated that the chamber remains a strong supporter of Morocco.

The chamber’s statement follows earlier reports that Libya’s foreign ministry had instructed the chamber to update any maps showing Morocco separated from its southern provinces, in order to avoid harming relations with Rabat.

In recent months, Libyan officials, including members of parliament and the upper house, have repeatedly expressed support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and rejected any efforts to divide the Maghreb region or destabilize it.