Libya and Tunisia reject Erdogan’s interference to control North Africa
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Khalid Al Mansoor
- . October 15, 2021
- . Update: June 1, 2020 6:40 am
“The
ambiguity and vagueness that mark Tunisia’s ties with Turkey, particularly as
regards the Libyan file, deepen the fears of Tunisians to see Turkish support
increase for militias and terrorist groups in Libya from their territory”. Says
a joint statement released in recent weeks by the majority of Tunisian
political parties, which includes, among others, the People’s Current, the
Workers’ Party, the Socialist Party, the Al-Baath movement, the Tunisia Forward
party, and Al-Qutb.
The political group rejects all Turkish activity on Tunisian territory, aimed at supporting militias and terrorists as well as sending mercenaries into neighboring Libya. The parties also called for a clear stance against any foreign military presence in the region, after a Turkish medical aid plane landed in the middle may at Djerba-Zarzis airport, in southern Tunisia. The parties invited the President of the Republic Kais Saied to condemn Turkey’s attempts to have a presence in the region, which represents a threat to regional security and peace.
The Muslim Brotherhood party in Tunisia, Ennadha, in addition to being head of Parliament with its leader Rachid Ghannouchi, also controls most of the state companies and institutions. It would have been Ghannouchi to make agreements with Erdogan to ensure Tunisian support in circumventing the new controls of the European Mission EUNAVFORMED Irini, in charge of monitoring compliance with the UN arms embargo on Libya. All this shows that Tunisia is dangerously involved in the Libyan conflict due to Turkish pressure.
The recent medical support provided by Turkey through Tunisia is seen with even more suspicion, since the same controversial Tripoli imam, Sadiq al-Gharyani, said in a recent interview, that Qatar is introducing weapons to Libya in the appearance of aid for COVID-19. These armaments are used by Libyan militias and terrorist groups in their battle for survival against the Libyan National Army (LNA) of Marshall Khalifa Haftar.
Tunisians, as well as Libyans, reject Turkey’s interference in their internal affairs, new demonstrations are expected from tomorrow in front of the Tunisian Parliament to demand the removal of Ghannouchi from his role as head of Parliament.
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