Militia Commander Acknowledges Turkey in Control of W. Libya

People are seen shopping at a market in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
People are seen shopping at a market in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
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Militia Commander Acknowledges Turkey in Control of W. Libya

People are seen shopping at a market in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)
People are seen shopping at a market in the old city of Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters)

Salah Badi, a Libyan militia leader, acknowledged that Turkey is effectively in control of western Libya.

Badi, commander of the al-Somoud Brigade that is loyal to the Tripoli-based transitional authority, said Saturday: “We used to control positions, while today we have been stripped of everything.”

“We control nothing and Turkey now controls everything, even foreign policy,” he added, revealing that he is barred from traveling.

Badi, who is wanted internationally for war crimes, said the 2019 war on Tripoli was actually part of a Russian-Turkish agreement that would see the defeat of the Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Khalifa Haftar.

He explained that the agreement stipulated that the LNA would be defeated militarily, while it would continue to wield political power.

Moreover, Badi said that holding elections in December is unviable.

Transparent elections cannot be held while foreign mercenaries are deployed in the country, he remarked.

He called for the withdrawal of the mercenaries and foreign forces.

Everything happening in Libya is connected to foreign meddling, he added, demanding that a probe be launched in all developments that have taken place since 2011, even saying he was prepared to appear in court to be held accountable for his actions.



Migrant Boat Sinks off Tunisia with at Least Eight Dead, 29 Rescued

Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
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Migrant Boat Sinks off Tunisia with at Least Eight Dead, 29 Rescued

Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)
Representation photo: Refugees and migrants are rescued by members of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms in the Mediterranean Sea on Nov. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Sergi Camara, File)

Tunisia's coast guard on Monday recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank off the country's coast as it sailed towards Europe, a security official told Reuters, adding that 29 other people were rescued.

The boat sank in waters off the city of Abwabed near Sfax, a departure point often used by African migrants.

Search operations were underway for possible missing persons, said Houssem Eddine Jebabli, an official in the national guard.

Tunisia is grappling with an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a major departure point for both Tunisians and others in Africa seeking a better life in Europe.