Turkey and Egypt aim to soften Libya tensions with rapprochement
A rapprochement between Egypt and Turkey could offer hope towards easing tensions in Libya, Voice of America reported on October 22nd.
The war has been split between two rival administrations, on one side Khalifa Haftar’s in Benghazi, backed by Egypt, and on the other the National Unity government in Tripoli, backed by Turkey. The two sides only recently ended a dispute over rulership of Libya’s central bank, which has allowed oil exports to resume this month.
Egyptian President El-Sisi pledged to work with Turkish President Erdogan on Libya in a recent trip to Ankara.
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Ankara wants Egypt to use its ties with Haftar to convince him to sign an agreement Turkey had made with the National Unity government to explore what are thought to be energy reserves in Libyan waters. On the other hand, some say Cairo wants Turkey to support the removal of National Unity’s Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.
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The situation in Libya is likely to be seen as an important test for Turkey and Egypt’s new rapprochement.
Voice of America
