The President of South Africa, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, said Libya's interests in peace and ending the ongoing offensive against Tripoli, adding that the oil blockade is harming such interests.

Ramaphosa and the Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sirraj dicussed in Pretoria South Africa's support for the Government of National Accord, outlining the negative impact of foreign interventions in Libya.

Achieving peace in Libya is a priority for him as the current President of the African Union, Ramaphosa said, adding that his country will play a neutral but active role in finding peaceful solutions to the Libyan crisis based on the Political Agreement signed in Skhirat on December 17, 2015.

Meanwhile, Al-Sirraj said Libya is positive that South Africa is now President of the African Union at this difficult time, hailing the role of the Congo-chaired high ranking committee on Libya.

Al-Sirraj explained to Ramaphosa the details of Khalifa Haftar's offensive against Tripoli, which he said aimed at returning Libya to the totalitarian rule, while Libyans all aspire for a democratic and civil state.

The two officials talked about cooperation in different fields like education, agriculture, industry, health and the participation of South African firms in rebuilding Libya, in addition to security and political consultations.