Tripoli ‘to boycott’ Arab League talks on Libya, GNA’s foreign minister says
Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) has announced that it intends to boycott negotiation talks to be held by Arab League foreign ministers next week, GNA’s foreign minister Mohamed Taher Siala said.
Siala said that there had been no prior consultation with the GNA government and said the virtual format of the meeting was not suitable for addressing the thorny issues involved.
The talks were called for by Egypt, a key supporter of eastern-based General Khalifa Haftar. The peace initiative was welcomed by the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Both Turkey and the GNA dismissed the peace initiative and called for a ceasefire negotiations under the aegis of the United Nations (UN).
The GNA has recently benefited from a Turkish-backed forces counter on an year-long offensive by Haftar’s forces against Tripoli earlier this month that drove the Libyan National Army (LNA) forces out of western Libya.
LNA forces controls the eastern part of the country as well as much of the south, where are located a significant part of Libya’s main oil fields, the source of most of the country’s external revenue, are located.
Oil exports have been frozen for most 2020 after GNA forces blockaded the ports, including the main ones near Sirte. Last week, the National Oil Corporation restarted production at two of the main oil fields, but was forced to close them again after a few hours.
