Arab, African Countries United in Rejecting Turkish Meddling in Libya

Arab Senior Algerian officials stressed to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu their country’s strong rejection of any military intervention in neighboring Libya, Algerian diplomatic sources revealed. 

The Libyan capital, Tripoli, is a “red line”, they added.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had received on Tuesday Cavusoglu, who was in Algeria on a two-day visit. Discussions focused on regional and international affairs, the Algerian news agency reported.

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the higher Algerian authorities informed the Turkish minister that any military intervention in Libya will have “dire” consequences on peace in the Arab Maghreb, African Sahel and Mediterranean regions.

They quoted Algerian officials as saying that their country will not stand idly by as the situation escalates in Libya. They called on all parties to exercise restraint and help the warring sides in Libya to reach a political solution to the crisis through dialogue.

Tebboune had on Monday received head of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord, Fayez al-Sarraj. The presidency had called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to impose a ceasefire in Libya and put an end to military escalation.

Tensions have been high after Turkey’s parliament authorized last week the deployment of troops to Libya, following a deal with the GNA on sending military experts and weapons signed into law in December.

The GNA and Turkey signed security and maritime agreements in November last year, angering Mediterranean countries including Greece and Cyprus who also seek to exploit energy resources in the region.

The deals have alarmed Mediterranean and Arab countries and the United Nations, which have slammed Ankara’s meddling in Libya and warned that its intervention may escalate the situation in the already unstable country.

Tunisia

Meanwhile, Tunisia said consultations are still ongoing about whether the country would take part in the upcoming international conference on Libya that is set to be hosted by Berlin at the end of the month.

A spokeswoman for the Tunisia presidency stressed the importance of Libya’s neighbors, Tunisia and Algeria, attending the meeting because they are keen on its political and security stability.

On military intervention, she said Tunis “categorically” rejects any foreign meddling in the country, including from Turkey. “This has been Tunisia’s position from the start and it has not and will not change.”

Moreover, she stressed that Tunisia will not allow Turkish forces to use its territories to launch attacks against Libya.

Egypt

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, meanwhile, spoke of the “difficult” circumstances in the region, stressing that no one could “drag” Cairo towards conflict.

Egypt had slammed Turkey’s decision to deploy forces to Libya, saying it was a flagrant violation of international resolutions.

Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy are set to meet in Cairo this week to address the “rapidly developing events in Libya” and ways to reach a comprehensive settlement to its crisis.

African Union

African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Smaїl Chergui revealed that the commission will convene in early February to discuss the situation in Libya and the Sahel region.

He told the Algerian news agency that the military escalation in Libya threatens to aggravate the security situation in the Sahel. He hoped that the AU would play a role in restoring calm in Libya in wake of its successful mediation in Central Africa.

Meanwhile, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio arrived in Istanbul on Tuesday for talks with Cavusoglu on regional affairs, most notably Libya and Syria.