Türkiye plays mediator role between Libya’s warring parties
Saddam Haftar and Imad Trabelsi attended he SAHA EXPO in Istanbul on October 22. (Image by Mehmet Akbas/Türkiye Today)
Türkiye has been playing an active role in mediation between Libya‘s Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) and Bengazi-based Government of National Accord (GNA), sources and experts confirmed.
In a surprising move, Saddam Haftar, son of Eastern Libya’s ruler Khalifa Haftar, attended the SAHA Expo defense technology fair in Istanbul.
He met with Türkiye’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler in Istanbul on Oct. 22 in his official capacity as the chief of staff of Libya’s East-based army, a position that he was recently appointed by his father.
One day later, on Oct. 23, Khalifa Haftar’s other son, Bilgasem Haftar signed an agreement with Türkiye’s Silahtaroglu Construction Company to implement projects. The signing ceremony took place in Benghazi, located in Libya’s east.
While Saddam Haftar is the key person in running the army in the east, his brother Bilgasem is responsible for running the financial matters of the eastern government.
Saddam Haftar’s travels to Türkiye
Saddam Haftar has been traveling to Türkiye in the last months.
Experts opined that such a relationship reflects Türkiye’s more central role in Libya, in contrast to Türkiye’s unilateral support of Libya’s Tripoli-based government after Haftar’s ground-zero operation in 2019.
Speaking to Türkiye Today, a Libyan source who is familiar with the issue noted the significance of the visit, as Haftar is seen as the de facto military leader of eastern Libya after his father stepped back from day-to-day control.
The diplomatic source asserted that Turkiye has played an active role in bridging the gap between Libya’s west and east and helped facilitate a rapprochement between the two sides.
Turkish sources were unable to comment on the issue because of the sensitivity of the matter.
One source noted that ‘Türkiye’s security bureaucracy is more active in managing relations with Libya.’
Haftar-Trabelsi photo shows rapprochement
During the visit, Haftar was photographed alongside Libyan Interior Minister Emad Trabelsi, signaling a potential rapprochement between Libya’s rival factions from the east and west.
In an interview with Türkiye Today, Umberto Profazio, a North African expert for the International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated that Haftar is ‘the rising star’ in the east, and is seen as the most likely successor to Khalifa Haftar.
He opined that the image showing Haftar and GNU’s Interior Minister Emad Trabelsi is a powerful testament to Türkiye’s active mediation between warring parties in Libya.
“Türkiye has been playing a more central role since 2020. It is mediating between two sides, just as it tries to do between Ethiopia and Somalia,” he maintained.
Profazia also noted that Trabelsi has turned into a very central figure in Libya in recent months.
Speaking to Türkiye Today, Turkish Libya expert Ufuk Necat Tasci noted that Türkiye is working toward establishing a unity government in Libya in cooperation with both sides.
“Türkiye not only works with the warring parties in Libya, but also works with Egypt, Russia, and even Italy on this matter. I think this was one of the main agenda items during Italian premier Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Türkiye this month,” Tasci concluded.
