Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his rejection of the appointment of a new Prime Minister in Libya. He claimed that Turkey “does not believe that a new interim government in Libya is helpful to the country,” broadcaster NTV and others cited him as saying on Wednesday.
Erdogan also added that he will continue to support the Government of National Unity (GNU), led by Prime Minister, Abdel-Hamid Dbaiba.
“Just as we have given all kinds of support to Libya from the beginning, we will try to give our best support in the next process. We want elections to be held so that the Libyan people will have the form of government they want and desire. We are currently in search of this,” Erdogan stated.
“Our ties with the Parliament-designated Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha are good. On the other hand, (ties) are also good with Dbaiba,” Erdogan told reporters on a return flight from Dubai.
“The important thing is who the Libyan people choose, and how,” he added.
Turkey provided military support and training to the previous Government of National Accord (GNA), in addition to sending thousands of Syrian mercenaries to the North African country.
Last week, Libya’s Parliament voted for Bashagha to form a new government to replace the GNU. Dbaiba announced his refusal to step down, and was reportedly a target of an assassination attempt on Thursday, in yet another political rift in the OPEC oil producer.
The ongoing political chaos, after a failed Presidential election, scheduled for December 2021, threatens to renew violence and divisions across the country.
Libya has been mired in a political crisis since the fall of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.