The head of Libya’s new interim government made overtures to both Egypt and Turkey last week, paying visits to Cairo and Ankara to hold talks with the governments that had been on opposing sides in the country’s recent civil war. Mohamed Al Menfi, who was elected the head of Libya’s Presidential Council earlier this month, met with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Thursday before flying to the Turkish capital the following day. El Sisi pledged his “full and utter” support for the new council and the country’s institutions as it gears up for parliamentary and presidential elections in December, and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to restoring stability in the country. Egypt last month announced the planned reopening of its embassy in Tripoli, pointing to a more conciliatory position to factions in Western Libya, following a ceasefire between the UN-backed western government and General Khalifa Haftar’s eastern forces last October.

Menfi’s courting of both Egypt and Turkey comes amid signs that tensions between the regional rivals may be easing. The Turkish government has in recent weeks intimated that it wants to restore diplomatic relations with Egypt and reach an understanding on maritime borders in the Mediterranean. Officials earlier this month asked Turkish media to dial down their criticisms of the Egyptian government, a move that was warmly welcomed by Information Minister Osma Heikal.

Egypt keeps the US in the loop on GERD as Cairo, Khartoum hope for int’l mediation: Efforts to relaunch talks to reach a binding agreement on filling and operating the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam were at the top of the agenda for Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Hamdy Loza and US Special Envoy for Sudan Donald Booth, who met yesterday in Cairo, according to a statement. After months of floundering talks, Sudan made a formal request for international mediation. Ethiopia strongly opposed the proposal, on the grounds that it would undermine the AU’s efforts to resolve the impasse. Ethiopia said last week it will continue with plans to fill the dam’s reservoir in the upcoming rainy season, starting next August, with or without an agreement.

FURTHER AFIELD: US rivals China and Iran are getting cozier, signing a 25-year strategic cooperation pact yesterday, Iranian state media IRNA reports. No details of the agreement were formally announced, but the New York Times reports that China will invest some USD 400 bn in Iran in exchange for oil as part of the pact and the two countries will also step up military cooperation with joint training. The agreement could undermine the US’ leverage over Iran ahead of expected negotiations and lessen the US influence in the Middle East, pundits suggest.