Tunisia moves on Libyan powder keg by reaffirming support for the GNA
The war in Libya continues, and although a ceasefire is not in sight, there are several conflicts of interest. The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday reaffirmed its country's support for the internationally recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) led by Fayez Sarraj. The head of the GNA's foreign affairs portfolio, Mohamed Taher Siala, and his Tunisian counterpart, Salma al Niefer, analysed the latest developments in the conflict that is ravaging the North African nation, according to a statement issued by the Libyan Foreign Ministry.
Tunisia has insisted on the need to find a "political solution" that will lead to the stabilization of the country on a political, economic and social level, according to statements collected by the digital Middle East Monitor. Furthermore, the Tunisian minister urged Libya to continue working in a coordinated manner to "develop common visions on the problems affecting the two countries". The call came after Tunisian President Kaïes Said received the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister on Tuesday to discuss issues such as the situation in Libya. Said reiterated his country's interest in trying to "bring the points of view" of the parties involved in the conflict, reiterating the continued willingness of the nation he presides over to help "find a political agreement" and put an end to this crisis "which has affected neighbouring countries, in particular Tunisia, in a very negative way".
On the other hand, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Khalid bin Muhammad Manzalawi, said on Thursday during a virtual session of the UN Security Council that "eliminating the interference of foreign powers in Libya, as well as the proliferation of mercenaries or violations of the arms embargo" is the only solution to achieve peace and end the war between Field Marshal Jalifa Haftar, leader of the Libyan National Army (LNA), and Fayez Sarraj, Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA).
In his speech, Manzalawi expressed his concern about the increasing instability in the Middle East and about the seriousness of recent events in Libya. In view of this situation, he stressed the need to take "effective and decisive" measures, since the intensification of this political and social crisis could lead to the appearance of new ones and affect the security and peace of the region, according to the Libyan television channel 24.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan also believes that foreign interference must be stopped for peace to return to the North African nation. In a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, at the headquarters of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rabat, he warned of "the impact of the Libyan conflict on regional Arab security". For his part, the Moroccan minister affirmed that his country "was concerned by what is happening in Libya", and like Saudi Arabia, stressed that "the Libyans can find solutions to their differences on their own". "Morocco will not provide the Libyans with a ready-made recipe to overcome this crisis, but a space for them to find a solution," he stressed, as reported by the daily Al Marsad.
While some of the main countries in the region have criticised the presence of the Eurasian nation in the war in Libya, a new contingent of mercenaries and weapons from Ankara could have arrived in the North African country in the last hours by air, according to the daily Al Arabiya. The arrival of this plane on Libyan soil came after the Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Aguila Saleh, stressed the need to "end Turkish aggression on Libyan soil" and avoid "foreign interference in all its forms". Germany has announced its intention to send a military frigate to the Mediterranean, as part of the Irini naval mission, to monitor the UN ban on arms supplies to Libya.
Other actors such as organized crime networks and other armed militias also operate in this spiral of instability. This situation has been intensified by the structural insecurity that characterises the region, an issue of growing concern to countries such as Tunisia and Algeria, who fear they will be directly affected by the war between the LNA and the GNA. Poverty and food insecurity, underdevelopment or corruption have taken hold in this region, which is also suffering from various multidimensional crises caused by terrorism and transnational organized crime.
Turkey - which has intensified its presence in recent months by sending mercenaries of different nationalities - and Qatar support the Tripoli government, backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and internationally recognised by the United Nations, while the LNA is supported by Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan and Russia.
