12 – 17 December 2019: Head of the GNA Serraj meets with high-level representatives in Doha

Dec 18, 2019 | International actors

On 12 December, the European Council released a statement condemning the maritime deal between the Government of National Accord (GNA) and Turkey, which was approved by the Turkish government on 5 December. It said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “infringes upon the sovereign rights of third States” and “unequivocally” reaffirmed its solidarity with Greece and Cyprus.

On 14 December, the Security and Military MoU that was agreed in late November between Turkey and the GNA was introduced to the Turkish parliament, though it is not clear when they will vote on it.

On 15 December, the head of the GNA, Fayez al-Serraj, met with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, and Qatari Prime Minister, Abdullah Bin Nassir, on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar. Serraj reportedly briefed them on the current state of play in Libya and on the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) assault on Tripoli. According to Serraj’s office, his visit to Qatar served as an opportunity to explore the relationship between the two countries and to coordinate their positions on issues of shared concern. Tamim reportedly said that Qatar was willing and ready to provide the GNA with economic and security support.

On the side-lines of the Doha Forum in Qatar Serraj met with US Republican senator Lindsay Graham, a known confidant of US president Donald Trump, to express concerns over Russian intervention in Libya.

On 16 December, Turkey claimed that during the Doha Forum Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested working jointly in Libya.