General Francesco Paolo Figliuolo, the Chief of Joint Operations of the Italian Defense Staff, concluded his two-day visit to Libya on Tuesday.
During his stay, he presided over the official handover ceremony of the Italian bilateral assistance and support mission, known as “MIASIT”, as reported by the Italian news agency, Nova.
The event marked the transition between Brigadier Michele Fraticelli, who led the unit since September 2022, and his successor, Dario Antonio Misalia of the Italian Air Force.
The ceremony was attended by the Italian Ambassador to Tripoli, Gianluca Alberini, Military Defense Attaché Captain Francesco Marino, and representatives from various diplomatic, civil, and military authorities.
General Figliuolo highlighted the growing central role of the mission and the armed forces, underscoring their significance within the broader Italian presence in Libya and the strategic importance of the wider Mediterranean region to Italy.
His visit came shortly after floods affected the Derna region. Currently, efforts of the Italian armed forces, civil protection units, fire brigade teams, and the Red Cross are concentrated on providing immediate relief and assistance to meet the basic needs of the residents, according to Nova.
Figliuolo stated, “We have always had a relationship of exchange, closeness, and friendship with the Libyan people. Our commitment here should continue unwaveringly and with all resources available, both at the country level and with our armed forces on the ground, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.”
During his visits to Tripoli and Misrata, General Figliuolo, accompanied by a delegation from the Joint Operations Command, met with soldiers from the Italian battalion and various military figures from Libya.
Alongside Ambassador Alberini, he traveled to Abusta to meet with Major General Mohamed Al-Haddad, Chief of Staff of the Government of National Unity, expressing his solidarity with the challenges faced by the Libyan people.
Among the discussions were cooperative initiatives between Italy and Libya regarding the training of local security forces and special units.