( 4 minutes read)
· Libya’s top diplomat called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country
· This appeal was made by Najla al-Manqoush, Libya’s foreign minister during a news conference with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Tripoli
· She demanded the repatriation of more than 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya
Libya’s top diplomat called for the departure of foreign forces and mercenaries from the North African country. Libya will hold general elections later this year and she wanted before the mercenaries to leave to pave the way for free and fair elections .
This appeal was made by Najla al-Manqoush, Libya’s foreign minister during a news conference with her Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Tripoli. She demanded the repatriation of more than 20,000 foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libya.
Oil-rich Libya was plunged into chaos after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising. During those bloody agitations, longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was toppled and the country was split between a UN-supported government in Tripoli and rival authorities based in the country’s east. Each side has the backing of mercenaries supported by regional and foreign powers.
Forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, the military commander controlling eastern and southern parts of Libya, in April 2019 was engaged in an offensive to capture Tripoli, supported by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, The campaign collapsed. Turkey stepped up its military support of the UN-supported government with the backing of Syrian mercenaries.
