On Friday, the Turkish Ministry of Defence reported that Defence Minister Hulusi Akar met the Minister of Interior of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) Fathi Bashagha in Ankara. The two officials exchanged views on the most recent developments in Libya.
This comes a day after Akar announced that Turkey’s activities in Libya are based on international law. Akar stressed that the Turkish armed forces are supervising the rehabilitation of the Libyan forces in the training centres they have established, denying claims that there were military bases.
The Prime Minister of the GNA, Fayez Al-Sarraj, announced his intention to conduct an immediate cabinet reshuffle, in light of the recent protests. Al-Sarraj renewed his call for general elections next March.
Earlier this month, the GNA declared a ceasefire and called for the cities of Sirte and Al-Jufrah to be designated demilitarised zones. In a separate statement, Libyan Parliament Speaker, Ageela Saleh, also called for a ceasefire. Both administrations also called for an end to the oil blockade, imposed earlier this year.
Civil war broke out in Libya after the toppling of long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Numerous militias and forces are fighting for power and influence. Tripoli-allied militias are backed by Turkey, Qatar, and Italy. Meanwhile, the eastern-based military commander, Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, and Russia.