Fathi Bachagha, Libyan Interior Minister of the Government of National Accord (GNA), is on a three-day visit to Paris.
Arrived on November 18, Fathi Bachagha was received the next day by the head of French diplomacy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, as well as by his counterpart, Gérald Darmanin. Further meetings are scheduled for November 20 at the Defense Ministry. Fathi Bachagha is a heavyweight in Tripoli and one of the key players in the Libyan scene. He said he was responding to France’s invitation when many in the camp in western Libya object to the visit.
Is France, by receiving Fathi Bachagha, the man from Turkey and one of the key men in Libya, trying to regain its influence in Tripoli? The multiple talks with Fathi Bachagha in Paris are part of “wider contacts with the Libyans” aimed at full implementation of the ceasefire, says the foreign ministry, which rejects any diplomatic turn
While France is accused of bias in Libya and that it is accused of having long supported the strong man of eastern Libya, Marshal Khalifa Haftar, facing the government of national unity (GNA), recognized by the UN, the head of French diplomacy evokes “France’s support for the political process and the continuation of the interlibyan dialogue to apply the ceasefire agreement”.
“Encouraging signs”
France, which has lost its influence in Libya, is seeking to rebalance its relations with the different parties. After supporting Marshal Khalifa Haftar, she tries to keep her hand, and points to “encouraging signs”. She therefore invites the strongman from West Libya, a key figure in Tripoli, who has until now been fiercely opposed to France.
By going to Paris, after having gone to Cairo at the beginning of November, Fathi Bachagha seems to want to turn the page. He “wants to be seen as having support so that he can become prime minister,” say several observers. But “the fact of inviting someone to Paris is not to dub him”, they insist at the Quai d’Orsay,
Supported by Turkey and the United States, the name of Fathi Bachagha often returns to appear among the successors of the resigned Prime Minister Fayez el-Sarraj in order to lead the new period of transition which must prepare for the elections of 2021. Before his tour, Fathi Bachagha, this former militia leader in Misrata who presents himself as the best alternative to the current Prime Minister, had made several arrests in Tripoli including that of a notorious human trafficker, which earned him congratulations from Paris.
“We insisted that France revise its position in Libya” had tweeted Fathi Bashagha before correcting: “we insisted on a positive role for Paris in support of political dialogue”.
Fruitful meeting with French Foreign Minister @JY_LeDrian 🇫🇷 where we discussed ways of strengthening relations between 🇱🇾 & 🇫🇷.
We confirmed our strong belief of considering peace as the cornerstone of stability in 🇱🇾. Also we praised France positive rule in Political Dialogue. pic.twitter.com/l5gcA3cSoU
— فتحي باشاغا Fathi Bashagha (@fathi_bashagha) November 19, 2020
As for the meeting with his French counterpart, Gerald Darmanin, the Libyan Minister of the Interior said he had discussed security cooperation, migration and the fight against terrorism. “France will provide us with technical and material assistance,” tweeted Fathi Bachagha also referring to the training of security forces by the French police. Security agreements have been signed with French companies specializing in the security field, in particular for the biometric identification of people.