Libyan speaker accuses Tripoli militias of ceasefire violation

CAIRO - 12 January 2020: Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh told Extra News on Sunday that Tripoli militias breached the ceasefire, and that his visits to Egypt are part of attempts to resolve the Libyan crisis.


Speaker of the Libyan House of Representatives Aguila Saleh in Egypt's House of Representatives on January 12, 2020. Egypt Today/Khaled Mashaal

Saleh’s statements came on the sidelines of a visit to the Egyptian House of Representatives as he attended the plenary session along with accompanying delegation, and met with the General Committee and counterpart Ali Abdel Aal.



Saleh said that the MoUs signed between the non-elected Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey constitute a violation of the 2015 Skhirat Agreement and Libyan sovereignty.

"That is because GNA has not acquired the approval of the House of Representatives and because the MoUs compose a threat to the regional security and a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," Saleh stressed, adding that GNA harbors militias breaching all international laws and norms.

Saleh said that the Skhirat Agreement has been broken and that it violates the 2011 Constitutional Declaration. Saleh added that GNA is an interim government that should have been toppled 2 years ago, accusing Fayez al-Sarraj of treason and paving the way for Turkish troops and militias to turn Libya into an Ottoman colony.

“I warn against the danger of proxy war waged by terror elements to fail the nation state in Libya,” Saleh said, accusing GNA of theft and terrorism. He pointed out that the Libyan people seek to establish a democratic civil state but is deterred by a terrorist conspiracy organized by Turkey “which has a bloody history and stands behind terrorism in the region.”

On his side, the Egyptian speaker underlined that the Libyan and Egyptian national security are intertwined in light of the shared geo-politics, and that subsequently, continuous coordination and consultation are a must on all levels. Abdel Aal asserted that Libyan resources exclusively belong to the Libyan people, saying that the MoUs signed between the non-elected Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey constitute a violation of international law.

Spokesperson of Egypt’s House of Representatives Salah Hasab Allah stated that the General Committee vigorously condemned in the meeting the Turkish Parliament’s approval to send troops to Libya, as such acts come as a violation of international legitimacy principles and UN Security Council’s resolutions on Libya.

The committee also expressed support to the political leadership in all measures it perceives as mandated to deal with the situation.