Libya presents new test for Egypt-Turkey cooperation

Turkey and Egypt recently took a significant step toward improving their relationship by signing several agreements in Ankara aimed at boosting their economies and cooperating on broader Arab World issues. This meeting marked a thaw in their previously tense relations.

However, less than a week after this historic event, Libya has emerged as a major test of their ability to manage differing perspectives, according to a report in The Guardian.

Turkey supports the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, western Libya, while Egypt, Russia, and the UAE back the rival faction based in Benghazi, which is controlled by the family of Khalifa Haftar. The two factions are currently in conflict over the recent dismissal of Sadiq al-Kabir, the governor of Libya’s central bank, which is responsible for managing the country’s oil revenue distribution.

Al-Kabir has reportedly gone into self-imposed exile in Turkey following his removal by the Tripoli-based government, which accused him of criticizing their spending and allegedly transferring money to Libya's eastern faction. In response, the Benghazi-based government has halted oil production from fields under its control. Western nations have voiced their disapproval of Kabir's dismissal, viewing him as a flawed yet rare figure of stability in Libya.

During their recent meeting in Ankara, Egyptian President Sisi and Turkish President Erdogan agreed on the need to “turn the page” on Libya, though the specific steps to achieve this remain unclear. Highlighting Libya’s importance in Turkey's diplomatic strategy, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin traveled to Tripoli immediately following the Erdogan-Sisi summit.

Kalin is reportedly working to persuade the Libyan Prime Minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, to either reinstate al-Kabir on an interim basis or establish a new, consensus-driven leadership for the central bank.