Monday, December 30, 2019

Turkish Troops in Libya

Libya is engaged in a civil war between the UN-recognised Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar. Since regime-change and the overthrow of Gaddafi in 2011, two seats of power have emerged in Libya: One in eastern Libya supported mainly by Egypt and the UAE, and the GNA in Tripoli, which enjoys international recognition.

Erdogan, the Turkey president, is expected to deploy Turkish troops to Libya to prop up the internationally recognised government in Tripoli. Never mind that these soldiers have no clue about Libya. And never mind that those fighters have nothing to do with what the Libyans are fighting each other for. Turkey is hundreds of miles away. They are mercenaries, not liberators. The “air, ground and sea” military support is part of a security agreement signed between the Tripoli government and Turkey. Turkey is also looking to establish a military base in Tunisia. In 2017, the two countries signed a military cooperation agreement with Turkey pledging to train Tunisian soldiers and invest in the Tunisian defence.

5,000 mercenaries from Sudan are battling alongside troops loyal to Khalifa Haftar. US media reported that hundreds of mercenaries from the Russian Wagner group - owned by a close confidante of President Vladimir Putin - were also aiding Haftar's forces. 

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