Libyan politicians celebrated on Sunday the first anniversary of Tripoli’s victory over Putist general Khalifa Haftar’s forces.
In a congratulatory message, Libya’s Supreme Minister, led by Khalid al-Mishri, thanked the countries, including Turkey, which supported the internationally recognized government in its defense of the Libyan capital against Haftar’s 14-month attack, which was supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). , Egypt, France and Russia.
“We congratulate the honorable Libyan people on the anniversary of the rejection of the 14-month aggression,” the council said in a statement.
The statement also emphasized the agreements reached with Turkey. The Council added that they were grateful to the countries that participated in “real alliances and partnerships” with Libya’s UN-recognized government.
It further stressed that the country will maintain its determination against “all political conspiracies until stability reigns in Libya.”
Fathi Bashagha, one of the favorites for the upcoming election and a key figure in the strategic alliance Turkey and Libya, also congratulated the victory.
“We greet the heroes in various areas who combined their efforts to repel aggression and defeat (the Haftar forces). We wish God’s mercy on our martyrs and mourn the lives lost, he said.
“Their legendary steadfastness and their victory for civilian values represented a positive turning point in the march,” he added.
“We must continue on the path of political struggle by rejecting tyranny, hegemonic groups and manifestations of corruption. We must also expel the mercenaries and hold elections in time, so that the prestige of the state returns, its wealth is distributed fairly without discrimination, sovereignty is achieved and the popular will is renewed with integrity and openness, “said Bashagha.
Libya’s former Defense Minister Salahaddin Namroush called for a continued strategic alliance between Turkey and Libya.
He greeted those who defended their “homeland and dignity against the barbarians who wanted a one-man, one-family rule”, Namroush also wished “Allah’s mercy on the fallen Libyan soldiers” and speedy recovery for the wounded.
“UN officials, the UN Security Council, local and international human rights organizations and the media confirmed all the realities we have presented,” he said.
On the other hand, Libya’s military spokesman Mohammed Kanunu also hailed the victory.
“We did not start this war but we are the ones who will define where and when it will end,” he said.
Libya has been embroiled in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising overthrew and later assassinated the long-serving dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Thereafter, the oil-rich country was long divided between a UN-backed government in the capital Tripoli and rival authorities based in the east.
In the Libyan conflict, tensions escalated further when Eastern-based forces under warlord Haftar launched an offensive in April 2019 and sought to capture the legitimate government-owned capital Tripoli. Haftar’s campaign collapsed in June when forces supporting the government, with Turkish support, gained the upper hand.
Thousands of foreign fighters have been taken to Libya, according to UN experts monitoring an arms embargo on Libya. The experts said in their latest report that eleven companies had also violated the arms embargo, including the Wagner group, a private Russian security company that the panel said in May provided between 800 and 1,200 mercenaries to Haftar.
After years of conflict between the UN’s recognized National Accord Government (GNA) and illegal forces loyal to Haftar in Libya and the ensuing difficult diplomatic period, a temporary unity government has been established in recent months.
Libya’s new unity government, the Government of National Unity (GNU), was elected through a UN-led process on March 15. It stems from two rival political groups that ruled the country’s eastern and western regions and completed a smooth transition after a decade of violent chaos. Abdul Hamid Dbeibah leads Libya to elections on December 24.
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