A member of Libya’s House of Representatives, Khalifa Al-Daghari, confirmed that the controversial maritime agreement with Turkey—signed during Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj’s tenure—was included in the agenda of a recent parliamentary session.
Speaking to Fawasel Media, Al-Daghari clarified that the agreement was never presented to the House during Sarraj’s government. He attributed this to the Skhirat Agreement, which temporarily granted Sarraj international legitimacy, enabling some decisions to bypass legislative approval.
Al-Daghari said the House’s earlier rejection of the deal stemmed from Libya’s deep political divisions and regional power struggles, particularly tensions between Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. These dynamics, he argued, hindered parliamentary ratification of the maritime accord.
The situation has recently shifted. Al-Daghari revealed that a Libyan parliamentary delegation met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and held talks with Turkish lawmakers. According to him, the discussions reflected mutual satisfaction regarding the potential economic benefits of the agreement.
Erdoğan reportedly encouraged the Libyan side to reintroduce the agreement for formal review in parliament, suggesting that this step could lead to official ratification—thus granting the deal constitutional weight within Libya’s legislative framework.
This development signals a possible revival of the maritime accord, which has drawn international attention due to its implications for resource rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The agreement, first signed in 2019, delineates maritime boundaries and has been seen as part of broader Turkish interests in energy exploration. It has faced opposition from neighbouring states and factions within Libya but may now be on a path toward legal recognition.
