What’s next for Turkey in Libya after election of new interim leaders?
Universal goodwill messages to Libya’s new interim leadership indicate how complex the Libyan file has become for all foreign actors in the country ahead of potentially clamorous elections in December.
The outcome of the UN-sponsored vote on new interim authorities in conflict-torn Libya seems to preclude any discussion of clear winners and losers, and anyone who believes that it fully safeguards Turkey’s interests might be making a premature conclusion.
A slate including head of the eastern-based parliament Aguila Saleh and Interior Minister of the outgoing Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) Fathi Bashagha was widely expected to win the Feb. 5 vote at the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, being an option that reflected the balance of power between the opposing parties on the ground. Egypt and Russia had raised Saleh’s profile as an alternative to eastern warlord Khalifa Hifter, and Saleh’s interim leadership would have been acceptable to Ankara, with Bashagha guaranteeing the protection of Turkish interests as prime minister. Eventually, another group of candidates won the vote, assuming the critical mission of taking Libya to national elections on Dec. 24.
